Parliamentarian Jose Maria Balcazar Zelada was sworn in as President of the Republic on Wednesday night under the constitutional line of succession, replacing Jose Jeri, who was censured by Congress the previous day.
Upon being sworn in as Peru's Head of State, Balcazar Zelada said he will serve until July 28 of this year, adding that he "will defend national sovereignty, as well as the physical and moral integrity of the Republic."
"I, Jose Maria Balcazar Zelada, swear before God, the homeland and all Peruvians that I will faithfully exercise the office of President of the Republic, and I assume the post in accordance with the Political Constitution of Peru from this moment until July 28, 2026," he stated.
The top official added that he "will defend national sovereignty, as well as the physical and moral integrity of the Republic, and the independence of its democratic institutions."
He also said that he will apply and enforce the Political Constitution and the country’s laws.
Presidential sash
Earlier, Balcazar Zelada was sworn in as the new head of Parliament after defeating lawmaker Maria del Carmen Alva with 64 votes. The latter received 46 votes in a second plenary ballot.
The new President of the Republic is a lawyer trained at the National University of Trujillo. Likewise, he holds a doctorate in Law and Political Science from the Pedro Ruiz Gallo National University.
Balcazar Zelada was elected to Congress representing Lambayeque region for Peru Libre (Free Peru Party).
He served as a professor at the Pedro Ruiz Gallo National University’s Faculty of Law and as a magistrate of the Judiciary.
At Congress, he chaired the Education, Youth, and Sports Committee (2023–2024).
He also led the special committee responsible for selecting eligible candidates for appointment to the Constitutional Court during the same period.
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Published: 2/18/2026