He appeals for unity, argues that it is possible to “build a true democracy,” and promises to tackle citizen insecurity.
Peru’s Congress proclaimed José María Balcázar as president of the Latin American country on Wednesday, one day after José Jerí was removed from office in a censure motion triggered by two investigations against him for influence peddling.
The candidate backed by the leftist Peru Libre party was sworn into office after securing 64 votes, compared to the 46 obtained by Maricarmen Alva, the center-right Popular Action party’s candidate, who was the frontrunner, according to ‘La República’.
The congressman, who will serve until July 28, 2026—the date on which the winner of the upcoming elections, scheduled for April 12, will be sworn in as president—was elected in a second round of voting, as none of the four candidates presented the previous day obtained the 59 votes required.
In his inaugural address, he advocated for unity, stating, “We are no longer here to fight. There are no right or left wings here. That term was coined by the French for the revolution; it has no ideological basis.”
The former judge expressed his honor at the support of the members of the chamber, adding, “We are grateful that we can tell Peruvians that it is possible to build a true democracy.” “Democracy is not working. If this democracy is not corrected, it will disappear in the future,” he warned.
Balcázar, 83, has stated that he does not intend to “change the course” of Peru and that he will “maintain” the current economic policy, given that “we are not in a position for experiments.” However, he added that a month is a long time to accomplish because “governing a country is not difficult.”
He also pledged to “guarantee the people that there will be a democratic and transparent transition, leaving no room for doubt, to maintain genuine peace, and to ensure that we have ministries capable of combating citizen insecurity.”
Previously, Balcázar faced Alva, winning by a margin of three votes in the first round. They were followed far behind by Héctor Acuña, supported by Honor and Democracy (right-wing), with thirteen votes; and Edgar Reymundo, representing the center-left Popular Democratic Bloc, who only garnered seven.
According to the Speaker of the House, Fernando Rospigliosi, 113 ballots were cast in this latest vote, compared to 117 in the first, as the deputies of the People’s Democratic Bloc (BDP) abstained.
A motion of no confidence ousted the interim president on Tuesday after he lost the vote on his removal with 75 votes in favor, 24 against, and three abstentions. Jerí faced seven motions of no confidence after being the subject of two investigations for influence peddling. His departure comes just months before the general elections, scheduled for April 12.
