Peru’s Congress has recently made a significant political shift by appointing former judge and left-leaning lawmaker Jose Maria Balcazar as interim president, following the removal of right-wing leader Jose Jeri. This appointment marks a pivotal moment in a nation that has seen considerable political turbulence, emerging as Peru’s ninth president within a decade.
Balcazar’s term is expected to be brief, as the country prepares for a new presidential election scheduled for April 12, 2024. In this election, a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a runoff, which would take place in June. The inauguration of the new president will coincide with Peru’s Independence Day in late July, which will effectively conclude Balcazar’s term.
The political landscape in Peru has been markedly unstable. Over the last ten years, four out of eight presidents have been impeached, and two have resigned prior to completing their terms. The last president to fulfill an entire term was Ollanta Humala, whose leadership came to an end in July 2016.
Balcazar’s rise to the presidency was not without challenges. In an initial attempt to secure votes, both he and centre-right candidate Maria del Carmen Alva received sufficient support in Congress but fell short of the necessary 59 votes for outright victory. The left-wing party Together for Peru announced a boycott for the subsequent voting round, yet Balcazar ultimately triumphed with 60 votes from the congressional assembly.
The political saga surrounding his predecessor, Jose Jeri, contributes to the ongoing narrative of instability. Jeri, one of the youngest presidents in Peru’s history, became entangled in multiple scandals during his short presidency, which followed the impeachment of Dina Boluarte for “moral incapacity” amid a series of controversies. Boluarte had taken over from Pedro Castillo, who faced severe accusations of attempting a self-coup.
As Peru navigates this complicated political landscape, pressures both domestically and internationally shape its governance. The United States has recently urged Peru to reconsider its relationships with key foreign partners, particularly China, citing concerns regarding transparency and potential national sovereignty implications.
This ongoing political drama highlights the need for stability and effective governance, as Balcazar prepares to lead in this transition phase in Peru’s storied political history.
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