Peru’s Congress has elected veteran lawmaker José María Balcázar as the country’s new interim president, following the impeachment of José Jerí amid corruption allegations.
Wednesday’s vote ushhered in Peru’s ninth president in a decade, further highlighting the country’s deep political turbulence. Balcázar’s term, however, will be short.
In just 53 days on April 12, Peruvians will head to the ballot box to elect a new president. If no candidate gains more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will be held in June.
Traditionally, Peru’s presidents are inaugurated on the country’s Independence Day in late July. That ceremony will mark the end of Balcázar’s leadership. His term is expected to run until July 28, 2026, in accordance with the current presidential mandate.
Balcázar was sworn in shortly after being elected president of Congress. Under Peru’s constitution, if the country’s president is temporarily or permanently unable to serve, the first vice-president assumes office.
In the absence of the first vice-president, the second vice-president takes over. If both vice-presidents are unable to serve, the president of Congress assumes the presidency. In cases of permanent incapacity, the congressional leader must immediately call elections. That constitutional provision elevated Balcázar to the presidency.
At 83 years old, he is the oldest president in Peru’s history at the time of assumption.
Who Is José María Balcázar?
José María Balcázar (born 17 January 1943 in Cajamarca, Peru) is a seasoned lawyer, former judge, university professor and politician.
He hails from the left-wing Perú Libre (Free Peru) party and has been a member of Peru’s Congress since 2021.
Balcázar’s ascent to the presidency was marked by political drama. In the first round of voting for congressional leadership, centre-right lawyer María del Carmen Alva received 43 votes, while Balcázar secured 46, both falling short of the 59 votes required.
A second round was triggered after neither candidate reached the threshold. The left-wing Together for Peru party boycotted the second round. Ultimately, Balcázar won with 60 of the 113 votes cast.
His victory sparked outrage among some right-wing politicians. Patricia Juárez of the far-right Fuerza Popular party wrote:
“We worked tirelessly for five years to prevent the congressional leadership from falling into the hands of the left.
Now we are deeply concerned about the results because we could be handing over even the presidency of the republic to the left, embodied by Balcazar. May God help Peru.”
Education And Early Career
Balcázar trained as a lawyer, later working as a university professor and judge.
He served as a provisional member of Peru’s Supreme Court. However, his judicial career was not without controversy. In 2004, he attempted to overturn a cassation ruling that was considered a final judgment under Peruvian law.
Following disciplinary proceedings, Peru’s National Board of Justice decided not to renew his term on the high court bench due to what was described as serious professional misconduct.
Despite this setback, Balcázar continued his involvement in legal and political affairs.
Family And Personal Life
Public reporting about Balcázar’s family life remains limited. International and regional coverage has largely focused on his legal background and political record rather than personal details such as spouse or children.
He is primarily known for his professional trajectory in law and his legislative role rather than for a high-profile public family life.
Political Career
Balcázar was elected to Congress in 2021 representing Perú Libre. During his time in office, he briefly separated from the party to join the Peru Bicentenario bloc before later returning.
Like many of Peru’s recent leaders, he has faced scrutiny and investigations.
He defended child marriage during a 2023 congressional debate on outlawing the practice, drawing criticism from women’s rights groups and fellow lawmakers.
He has also faced investigations over alleged misappropriation of funds from the Lambayeque Bar Association and has been linked to a broader bribery scandal involving former Attorney General Patricia Benavides.
Despite these controversies, Balcázar secured enough support in Peru’s highly fragmented Congress to win the presidency.
As interim president, Balcázar’s central responsibility will be to oversee the April 12 general election and ensure a smooth transition of power by July 28.
Though his tenure will be brief, it represents another pivotal chapter in Peru’s ongoing struggle to restore political stability and public trust in governance.
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