Peru’s Acting President Announces Cabinet Formation Amid Criticism
Peruvian Acting President José Jerí, who assumed office on Friday following the dismissal of Dina Boluarte, has declared plans to establish a “broad-based” cabinet aimed at combating rising crime and steering the country until the next elections in 2026, reports 24brussels.
Jerí faces significant scrutiny for taking several days to appoint key officials to his cabinet, raising concerns about governance during a critical period. On Sunday, he expressed gratitude to the outgoing Council of Ministers and outlined intentions to collaborate with the incoming Prime Minister to finalize the cabinet and promote national reconciliation.
He also revealed the convening of a National Agreement designed to foster political and social consensus, with a focus on enhancing citizen security, ensuring clean elections, and stimulating economic growth. When asked about the delays in cabinet appointments, Jerí defended the process, insisting it was being handled “with due responsibility” while also prioritizing immediate action in response to a major fire in San Juan de Miraflores. “We are putting together a new cabinet, and that is all I am going to say at this time, because today’s priority and urgency is precisely to address the problem of those affected,” Jerí remarked.
Jerí is reportedly aiming for a “technical and consensus-based” cabinet, although many of the names under consideration are familiar figures from previous administrations, including former ministers. Raúl Pérez-Reyes, who served as Minister of Economy under Boluarte, has emerged as the frontrunner for the Prime Minister position, indicating potential continuity with the outgoing administration’s policies.
Furthermore, other candidates being discussed for cabinet positions include Cluber Aliaga for the Interior Ministry and Miguel Palacios Celi for Health. The urgency of concluding these appointments is underscored by the constitutional stipulation that presidential decisions, such as decrees and administrative actions, lack legal validity without the endorsement of appointed ministers, leaving Jerí’s government actions currently without a legal basis.
Since his swearing-in, Jerí, a member of the Somos Perú party, has become the seventh president of Peru since 2016, following Boluarte’s removal by Parliament over accusations of “moral incapacity” to effectively address crime. In Congress, the Fuerza Popular party is distancing itself from the executive branch, asserting that Fernando Rospigliosi’s tenure as Speaker of Congress during Jerí’s absence will be strictly interim.
