Jose Maria Balcazar

Jose Maria Balcazar is a Peruvian left-wing lawmaker, former judge, and the newly appointed interim president of Peru. He assumed the presidency in February 2026 following the impeachment of his predecessor, Jose Jeri, due to corruption allegations. At 83 years old, Balcazar is now the country's eighth leader in a decade, reflecting a period of significant political instability in Peru. He was elected head of Congress before becoming interim president. His role is to serve on an interim basis until a new executive is sworn in after the general election scheduled for April 2026. Peru is currently experiencing a surge in organized crime, further highlighting the challenges Balcazar faces during his interim leadership.