José María Balcázar elected Peru’s interim president

José María Balcázar, a leftist lawmaker, was elected as Peru's interim president by congress on Wednesday, following the removal of José Jerí due to a scandal. Balcázar's election, the ninth president since 2016, was unexpected, as he beat conservative María del Carmen Alva in a second round of voting. Balcázar, from the Peru Libre party, previously served as head of congress. His election has sparked controversy due to past remarks defending sexual relations between girls aged 14 and older and male teachers, for which he has received strong criticism. Balcázar has also been investigated for alleged embezzlement and was expelled from a bar association in 2022. General elections are scheduled for April.

Jose Maria Balcazar was chosen by Peru's Congress as the country's interim president on Wednesday, following the impeachment of Jose Jeri on corruption allegations. Balcazar, an 83-year-old left-wing lawmaker and head of Congress, becomes Peru's eighth president since 2016. His appointment ends a power vacuum lasting over 24 hours. Balcazar will lead the nation until a new president is inaugurated on July 28, following the upcoming April 12 presidential election. Jeri's impeachment highlights the ongoing political instability in Peru, marked by conflict between Congress and the executive branch amidst corruption and violence.

Jose Maria Balcazar, a left-wing lawmaker and former judge, has been appointed as Peru's interim president by Congress, replacing Jose Jeri after his removal. This marks Peru's ninth president in the last decade, highlighting ongoing political instability. Balcazar's short term will last until a new president is inaugurated in late July, following general elections scheduled for April 12, 2026, with a potential run-off in June if no candidate secures a majority. Balcazar's election followed an initial round of voting and a boycott by the Together for Peru party, ultimately securing him 60 congressional votes. His appointment has been met with criticism from some right-wing politicians.

Peru's Congress impeached President Jose Jeri on February 18, 2026, just four months into his term. The impeachment was triggered by multiple corruption allegations against Jeri. The vote to remove him from office occurred only weeks before a scheduled general election in Peru. The decision effectively ousts Jeri from his position as president due to the corruption accusations. The impeachment proceedings and vote took place in Peru's Congress.

Peru's Congress impeached interim President José Jerí just four months into his term for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen, specifically Zhihua Yang, who was under government scrutiny. The scandal, dubbed "Chifa-gate," arose after videos surfaced of Jerí meeting Yang outside of his official schedule, including a late-night visit to one of Yang's restaurants. Lawmakers voted 75 to 24 in favor of impeachment, citing Jerí's failure to document the meetings as required by Peruvian law. Jerí's removal marks the third consecutive presidential ouster in Peru and makes him the seventh president since 2016 amid a period of political instability. Congress will vote on Wednesday for the next interim president as the country prepares for a general election in April.

Peru's interim president, José Jerí, was ousted from office on Tuesday due to corruption allegations related to the "Chifagate" scandal, marking the seventh president since 2016. Jerí allegedly met with a Chinese businessman holding an energy project concession and another individual under investigation for illegal logging. Lawmakers voted to censure him as head of Congress, automatically removing him from the presidency. Jerí, who assumed the role on October 10, 2025, after his predecessor's dismissal, denies wrongdoing and will return to his legislative position. A new head of Congress will be elected to serve as president until the winner of the April 12 election is sworn in on July 28, 2026. The upcoming election features a crowded field, with Rafael López Aliaga leading in polls and Keiko Fujimori running second.

Peru's Congress voted to remove President Jose Jeri from office on Tuesday, just four months into his term. The decision follows corruption allegations against Jeri's government, including a scandal dubbed "Chifagate" involving an undisclosed meeting with a Chinese businessman. Jeri, a right-wing leader and former head of Congress, assumed the presidency in October after his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was impeached. Boluarte herself had replaced Pedro Castillo, who was also impeached in December 2022. Jeri is the seventh president to lead Peru in the last decade, continuing a trend of political instability and presidential scandals in the country.

Peru's Congress ousted President Jose Jeri on Tuesday following a political scandal known as "Chifagate." The scandal stemmed from Jeri's undisclosed late-night meetings with Zhihua Yang, a Chinese state contractor, at Yang's Chinese restaurant in Lima. Lawmakers voted 75-24 to censure Jeri over these unregistered encounters, alleging a conflict of interest due to Yang's companies supplying the state. The vote occurred during an extraordinary session where multiple censure motions were debated. Jeri did not attend the debate, claiming the process denied him the opportunity to defend himself.

Peru's Congress removed interim President José Jerí from office on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, due to corruption allegations. The vote by Congress has initiated a new period of political instability in Peru. This comes just weeks before the country's scheduled presidential and congressional elections in April. The removal of Jerí prompted demonstrations both in support and against the decision outside the Congress building in Lima. The corruption probe against Jerí was the primary reason for his removal.

Peru's Congress will hold a special session on February 17th to debate the removal of President Jose Jeri, who has been in office for only four months. The announcement was made by Congress head Fernando Rospigliosi. Jeri, who is not running for re-election, faces allegations of bribery and influence-peddling related to a meeting with a Chinese businessman who had previously received government approval for a hydroelectric plant. The meeting, dubbed "chifagate," was not on the official presidential agenda, raising concerns about potential corruption. Jeri assumed the presidency in October following the impeachment of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, continuing a period of political instability in Peru, which has seen eight presidents in the last decade.