Congress voted on Tuesday to install Balcazar, an 83-year-old member of Congress and former judge, to lead the country temporarily. His appointment comes just one day after the congress voted to oust Jeri from office amid mounting political pressure.
Balcázar promised that during his time as provisional leader of the Andean nation, he would guarantee a tranquil and constitutional process in elections in his first words, as the Reuters and Al Jazeera reports stated.
Several members of the cabinet of the interim president and electoral officials will have an audience with him in the coming days to group all Government responsibilities to face the elections for the country.
During the past decade, Peru has experienced a high rate of turnover in its leadership, often the result of impeachments or presidential resignations and/or disputes between the executive and Congress.
Balcazar becomes the country’s ninth president that decade and sixth in just over two years.
He is expected to hold the post until a general election is held in Peru on April 12, and officials said his tenure would focus on maintaining administrative stability as the country gears up for the vote.
It was reported by local media outlets that the nomination for interim president moved swiftly after Jerí’s ouster as politicians rushed to fill the vacant seat and avoid political uncertainty, while the country’s government buildings remained under high security.
In his first words as provisional leader of the Andean nation, Balcázar vowed to guarantee a peaceful and constitutional electoral process during his brief tenure, according to reporting by Reuters and Al Jazeera. The interim president is scheduled to meet with several high-ranking officials from his cabinet and electoral authorities in the coming days to unify governmental functions for the nation’s elections.