Presidency of José María Balcázar
| Presidency of José María Balcázar 18 February 2026 – present | |
| Cabinet | See list |
|---|---|
| Party | Free Peru |
| Seat | Government Palace (Peru) |
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| Official website | |
The presidency of José María Balcázar in Peru began on February 18, 2026, after his swearing-in as President of the Republic by constitutional succession, in his capacity as President of Congress, following the impeachment of José Jerí from the presidency.[1]
Overview
He was designated by an internal vote of the Congress of the Republic, in which he received 60 votes in the second round against María del Carmen Alva, and was sworn in as President of the Republic by constitutional succession, in his capacity as President of Congress, in order to complete the 2021–2026 term. He is the eighth Peruvian president in less than a decade, the fourth Peruvian president in less than five years, and the oldest president the country has had at the time of assuming office (83 years).[2]
Oath of office
On February 17, 2026, the Congress of the Republic unanimously declared the censure of then-President José Jerí. Following the impeachment process, Parliament held a vote to elect a new president, due to Fernando Rospigliosi's refusal to assume the office.[3]
He was sworn in at 10:30 p.m. (Peruvian time) and assumed the presidency of the Republic according to the line of succession, becoming the fourth president of the 2021–2026 term and the eighth since 2016.[4]
During his brief inaugural address, he stated:
"Governing a country is not difficult; let's bring together the most insightful people. Why fight? It's a matter of will. I will come every day, if possible, to talk; without dialogue, there is nothing."
References
- ^ "El Congreso de Perú elige a José María Balcázar como presidente hasta julio". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). 2026-02-19. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ "Quién es José Balcázar, el nuevo presidente interino de Perú que llevó al partido de Pedro Castillo otra vez al poder". CNN (in Spanish). 2026-02-19. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ "José María Balcázar jura como presidente del Perú: así fue su asunción como jefe de Estado en el Congreso". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). 2026-02-18. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
- ^ "Izquierdista José María Balcázar asume presidencia interina de Perú tras destitución de Jerí". SWI swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). 2026-02-19. Retrieved 2026-02-19.