Peru’s Quick‑Turn Presidency: New Leader Picks

Peruvian lawmakers are set to choose a new president after the sudden removal of José Jerí. The chosen candidate will serve only until July 28, when the winner of the April general election takes office. This short‑term role highlights Peru’s unstable political climate, where presidents are frequently ousted for lacking legislative support.

The removal of Jerí followed a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with Chinese business owners, including a state contractor. He claimed the talks were about a Peruvian‑Chinese festival, but prosecutors have opened two preliminary investigations into alleged illegal sponsorship and influence‑peddling.

Four candidates are now in the running, each with different backgrounds:

• María del Carmen Alva (58) – Lawyer from the conservative Popular Action party. Front runner, former speaker of Congress, and comes from a family with major agro‑export interests, especially in asparagus shipments to the United States.
• Héctor Acuña (68) – Engineer from the conservative Honor and Democracy group. Extensive private‑sector experience but lacks deep political roots. Brother of César Acuña, a wealthy former governor and presidential hopeful for April’s election under the Alliance for Progress.
• José Balcázar (83) – Former judge from the leftist Perú Libre party.
• Edgard Reymundo (73) – Sociologist from the leftist Bloque Democrático.

Their support levels remain uncertain as Congress prepares for the vote.

The incoming president will face a sharp rise in murders and extortion that threaten small businesses and ordinary workers. Political factions are demanding guarantees for a transparent election and the formation of a new bicameral legislature, comprising 130 members of parliament and 60 senators.

This rapid turnover in leadership underscores the urgency for stable governance and credible electoral processes in Peru.