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Peru: Jose Maria Balcazar sworn in as President of Republic

Metaculus

2026 Peruvian Presidential Election Winner

Peruvian congressman and retired judge José María Balcázar Zelada, of the leftist Perú Libre (Free Peru) party, was sworn in as the country's interim president on Wednesday. He is set to serve for five months, until July 28.

Congreso del Perú

Peruvian congressman and retired judge José María Balcázar Zelada, of the leftist Perú Libre (Free Peru) party, was sworn in as the country's interim president on Wednesday. He is set to serve for five months, until July 28.

Balcázar defeated his fellow lawmaker María del Carmen Alva Prieto, 64 to 46, in a runoff election in Congress after they emerged as the two top contenders — 46 and 43 votes, respectively — in a first round where no candidate secured a simple majority to win outright.

Balcázar defeated his fellow lawmaker María del Carmen Alva Prieto, 64 to 46, in a runoff election in Congress after they emerged as the two top contenders — 46 and 43 votes, respectively — in a first round where no candidate secured a simple majority to win outright.

This comes as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://verity.news/story/2026/perus-congress-ousts-president-jer-after-months">the Peruvian Congress voted on Tuesday to remove José Jerí from the presidential office</a> less than five months after he was sworn in to replace impeached President Dina Boluarte, following the so-called "Chifagate" scandal.

This comes as the Peruvian Congress voted on Tuesday to remove José Jerí from the presidential office less than five months after he was sworn in to replace impeached President Dina Boluarte, following the so-called "Chifagate" scandal.

Peruvians are scheduled to head to the ballot box on April 12 to elect a new president and legislature, with a runoff set for June if no presidential candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. According to polls, right-wing rivals Rafael López Aliaga and Keiko Fujimori are the front-runners.

Peruvians are scheduled to head to the ballot box on April 12 to elect a new president and legislature, with a runoff set for June if no presidential candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. According to polls, right-wing rivals Rafael López Aliaga and Keiko Fujimori are the front-runners.

The fourth Peruvian to take office since Pedro Castillo was sworn in for a five-year presidential term in 2021, Balcázar is the ninth president of Peru in a decade. The last one to serve a full term was Ollanta Humala, who presidency ended in July 2016.

The fourth Peruvian to take office since Pedro Castillo was sworn in for a five-year presidential term in 2021, Balcázar is the ninth president of Peru in a decade. The last one to serve a full term was Ollanta Humala, who presidency ended in July 2016.

Peru's 83-year-old new president stirred controversy in 2023 for remarks supporting 14 as the minimum age of marriage during congressional debate on a bill to raise that age. On Wednesday, Balcázar denied rumors that he would pardon Castillo.

Peru's 83-year-old new president stirred controversy in 2023 for remarks supporting 14 as the minimum age of marriage during congressional debate on a bill to raise that age. On Wednesday, Balcázar denied rumors that he would pardon Castillo.

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This comes as the Peruvian Congress voted on Tuesday to remove José Jerí from the presidential office less than five months after he was sworn in to replace impeached President Dina Boluarte, following the so-called "Chifagate" scandal that involved secret meetings with Chinese businessmen.

This comes as the Peruvian Congress voted on Tuesday to remove José Jerí from the presidential office less than five months after he was sworn in to replace impeached President Dina Boluarte, following the so-called "Chifagate" scandal that involved secret meetings with Chinese businessmen.

Balcazar, 83, is a lawyer from Cajamarca who served as a judge and professor before being elected to Congress in 2021 for the Peru Libre party. He faced controversy in 2023 for statements defending child marriage during congressional debate on legislation to ban the practice.

Balcazar, 83, is a lawyer from Cajamarca who served as a judge and professor before being elected to Congress in 2021 for the Peru Libre party. He faced controversy in 2023 for statements defending child marriage during congressional debate on legislation to ban the practice.

Balcázar's election vindicates the popular will that was violated and disciplines the coup plotters who attempted to subvert democracy. This symbolic return of Peru Libre, even in the final months of the term, demonstrates that the correlation of forces ultimately prevails over those who sought to overturn legitimate political representation.

Balcázar's election vindicates the popular will that was violated and disciplines the coup plotters who attempted to subvert democracy. This symbolic return of Peru Libre, even in the final months of the term, demonstrates that the correlation of forces ultimately prevails over those who sought to overturn legitimate political representation.

Vladimir Cerrón

Placing Balcázar in power represents an unforgivable historic error that insults Peruvian women and girls. This legislator has repeatedly justified child marriage, claiming sexual relations help the psychological future of women and that girls under 14 possess psychological maturity to marry. Congress knowingly elected someone incompatible with democratic principles.

Placing Balcázar in power represents an unforgivable historic error that insults Peruvian women and girls. This legislator has repeatedly justified child marriage, claiming sexual relations help the psychological future of women and that girls under 14 possess psychological maturity to marry. Congress knowingly elected someone incompatible with democratic principles.

Balcázar belongs to Peru Libre, which has become a close ally of the right-wing and far-right coalition controlling Congress that promotes ultraconservative authoritarianism. The party votes alongside this coalition and its leader prioritizes combating what he calls the moderate left, openly allying with Fujimorism and fascism to achieve these goals.

Balcázar belongs to Peru Libre, which has become a close ally of the right-wing and far-right coalition controlling Congress that promotes ultraconservative authoritarianism. The party votes alongside this coalition and its leader prioritizes combating what he calls the moderate left, openly allying with Fujimorism and fascism to achieve these goals.

There's a 49.5% chance that Rafael López Aliaga will win the 2026 Peruvian presidential election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 49.5% chance that Rafael López Aliaga will win the 2026 Peruvian presidential election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Peru: José María Balcázar Sworn in as Interim President

Peru: José María Balcázar Sworn in as Interim President

Peru

Politics

Balcázar's election vindicates the popular will that was violated with the ousting of Pedro Castillo years ago and disciplines the coup plotters who attempted to subvert democracy. This symbolic return of Perú Libre, even in the final months of the term, puts the country back on track.

Balcázar's election vindicates the popular will that was violated with the ousting of Pedro Castillo years ago and disciplines the coup plotters who attempted to subvert democracy. This symbolic return of Perú Libre, even in the final months of the term, puts the country back on track.

Regardless of Balcázar's political ideologies, his election is an unforgivable historic error that reveals the moral bankruptcy of lawmakers. It's shameful that the country now has a president that justifies and supports child marriage and whose statements are incompatible with fundamental human rights.

Regardless of Balcázar's political ideologies, his election is an unforgivable historic error that reveals the moral bankruptcy of lawmakers. It's shameful that the country now has a president that justifies and supports child marriage and whose statements are incompatible with fundamental human rights.

Peru: José María Balcázar Sworn in as Interim President

Peru: José María Balcázar Sworn in as Interim President

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Peru: José María Balcázar Sworn in as Interim President

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