The Peruvian Congress chose José María Balcázar, from the left-wing Peru Libre party, as the country’s new interim president this Wednesday (18). The election was decided in the second round of voting.
Candidates Maria Del Carmen Alva and José Balcázar were the most voted in the first round by parliamentarians and advanced to the second round, with Balcázar winning with 60 votes, against 46 for his opponent.
The former magistrate will also be the new president of the country’s Congress, remaining in office until July 28, the date of inauguration of the winner of the general elections to be held in April. Balcázar, investigated for corruption since 2019, is now Peru’s eighth president in just eight years.
The new president has a history of controversies that fuel Peruvian popular distrust. According to the newspaper El Comercio, he has already defended child marriage in Congress, with the justification that “early sexual relations would help with psychological development”. Furthermore, allegations indicate that Balcázar had used his position to recommend family members for positions in the Public Ministry.
