Peru has had 8 presidents in 10 years, now appointing Jose Maria Balcazar

JAKARTA - The Peruvian Congress on Wednesday, January 18, at night, elected legislator Jose Maria Balcazar as the country's eighth president in the last decade.

Quoting AP, Balcazar, a 83-year-old former judge representing the left-wing Perú Libre party, replaced interim president José Jerí who was removed on Tuesday, February 17, for corruption allegations after four months in office.

In the legislative-level election, Balcazar defeated three other candidates with a majority of votes from a full 130 legislative members.

The constant presidential changes in Peru reflect a political crisis triggered by the lack of legislative support for the incumbent head of state.

The current Peruvian Parliament, which began its term in 2021, has recorded three heads of state in Peru: Pedro Castillo, Dina Boluarte, and Jerí.

Peruvian lawmakers have often used a broad interpretation of a constitutional article on "permanent moral incapacity" to oust sitting presidents.

Balcazar, a retired judge with nearly 30 years of experience in the judiciary, was sworn in by the head of Congress, Fernando Rospigliosi, shortly after the Peruvian parliament held a vote to choose the person to fill the post of president.

Balcazar will rule for five months before handing over power to the winner of the upcoming Peruvian presidential election.

Peruvians will vote for a new president and members of the legislature on April 12. If no presidential candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two leading candidates will advance to a runoff in June.

Various political groups are demanding firm guarantees for a transparent election.

Meanwhile, Balcazar's replacement will face Peru's problems, which are facing a surge in murders and extortion, whose victims are small business owners and the working class.