On February 19, 2026, José María Balcázar was elected as Peru's new interim president, marking him as the country's ninth leader since 2016. His election follows the impeachment of José Jerí, who was removed just four months into his presidency due to a scandal involving secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen and serious corruption allegations. Balcázar, an 83-year-old former judge representing the leftist Perú Libre party, secured the presidency in a surprising vote against the favored conservative lawmaker María del Carmen Alva. In his first remarks, Balcázar stated, "In these few months that remain, we will guarantee the people of Peru a peaceful and transparent democratic and electoral transition, leaving no room for doubt in the elections" (The Hindu). His election was broadcast live on TV, reflecting the significant public interest in the ongoing political turmoil (South China Morning Post).