LIMA, Peru — The appointment of 83-year-old José María Balcazar as Peru’s interim president has triggered widespread condemnation from human rights and women’s organizations, casting a shadow over the nation’s political stability. Balcazar assumed the presidency on Wednesday following the impeachment of his predecessor José Jeri on corruption charges, becoming Peru’s eighth head of state in a turbulent decade.
The controversy stems from Balcazar’s 2023 statement during a congressional debate on banning child marriage, where he asserted that ‘early sexual relations aid a woman’s psychological future.’ This remark came precisely when Peru was implementing legal reforms to prohibit marriage for individuals under 18, eliminating previous provisions that allowed teenage marriages with parental consent.
The National Human Rights Coalition (CNDDHH) expressed profound concern regarding the installation of ‘an authority figure with a controversial public record and statements that justify sexual violence against girls.’ Meanwhile, the Flora Tristan Peruvian Women’s Center characterized the appointment as symptomatic of a ‘profound ethical and democratic crisis’ gripping the nation. Government statistics reveal that over half of Peruvian women have reported experiencing psychological, physical, or sexual abuse from partners.
‘Any individual who minimizes violence against women and girls is not merely expressing an isolated opinion but demonstrating a complacent attitude toward abuse,’ the center emphasized in an official statement.
Balcazar has defended himself against the mounting criticism, claiming his comments have been distorted and taken out of context. The interim president also faces separate investigations for alleged misappropriation of public funds and corruption-related offenses, further complicating his brief five-month tenure until scheduled elections.