Jose Balcazar, left-wing lawmaker, steps in as Peru’s interim leader

Jose Balcazar leaves the Faustino Sanchez Carrion building after he was elected as interim president, following a session by Peruvian lawmakers to choose a new leader of Congress to assume Peru's presidency, after they ousted President Jose Jeri over a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, in Lima, Peru, February 18, 2026. REUTERS/Angela Ponce

Feb ⁠19 (Reuters) - Jose Balcazar, a left‑wing lawmaker who has faced backlash over comments about child marriage, ⁠became Peru’s new leader after Congress elected him to serve as interim president following the ‌removal of Jose Jeri.

The 83-year-old Balcazar, of the Peru Libre party, assumes the presidency at a moment of deep political volatility and public distrust. He will serve on an interim basis until the winning candidate of general elections on April 12 and ​an expected runoff vote in June, takes office on July 28.