José María Balcázar Takes the Helm as President of Peru Congress Amidst Political Turbulence

José María Balcázar has been appointed as the new president of the Peruvian Congress, a decision made during an extraordinary session on Wednesday night. This follows the censure of his predecessor, José Jerí, whose perceived relationships with Chinese businessmen and allegations of favoritism in government contracts led to significant political controversy. Balcázar, aged 83 and affiliated with the leftist political party Perú Libre, garnered majority support in the congress, thus securing his position for the next five months. He will oversee the government until July 28, when a new leader, elected in the April 12 elections, will take office. Balcázar's background is not without its own controversies; a lawyer by profession hailing from Cajamarca, he has made several contentious statements throughout his career, including support for child marriage under the belief that early sexual relations could aid a woman's psychological development. This perspective has elicited widespread backlash from both the Ministry of Women and the public. Peru's political landscape has been marked by instability, with experts noting a lack of consensus on the actual number of presidents the nation has had over the last decade. Some begin counting with Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, who was the first president to leave office before completing his term, while retired military officer Ollanta Humala is acknowledged as a president who did fulfill his mandate. Given the context of political turmoil, José María Balcázar is recognized as the eighth president since the onset of the institutional crisis, characterized by a series of brief tenures, with Manuel Merino famously lasting just five days in November 2020. The current climate can be described as one of acting or transitional presidents, with the political transitions frequently cut short, as seen with José Jerí, who was unable to finish the nine months of his term, following his appointment to replace Dina Boluarte, who also faced congressional removal. The recent session saw multiple candidates being scrutinized for the presidential position, including María del Carmen Alva from Acción Popular, and Héctor Acuña from Honor y Democracia, alongside Balcázar. While Alva initially appeared to be the frontrunner owing to support from significant political factions, Balcázar's unexpected rise in votes transformed the dynamic. Alva received 43 votes in the first round compared to Balcázar’s 46, yet neither candidate secured the required simple majority of 59 in the 117-member congress. In the subsequent round of voting, Balcázar emerged victorious with 60 votes to Alva's 46. This politically charged atmosphere highlights the challenges Peru faces moving forward, with many citizens hoping for stability and effective governance in the wake of frequent leadership changes and a lack of political consensus. Balcázar’s term will be critical in shaping the transition leading to the elections for a more permanently elected president. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2