Peru's newly reinstated Senate has elected its new president from the party of President-elect Keiko Fujimori, establishing a key alliance with another conservative party just days before the official presidential inauguration.
The political development unfolds as Peru prepares for Fujimori's inauguration on July 28 for the 2026-2031 term. The leadership of the 130-member lower house of deputies is scheduled to be chosen in the coming hours. This transition marks the return of a bicameral legislative system in Peru for the first time in more than three decades.
Torres, a lawyer and experienced politician who served in the legislature from 2016 to 2020, was sworn in to preside over the Senate for a one-year term. In addition to his legislative role, Torres serves as Peru's second vice president-elect, having won the recent elections alongside Fujimori and first vice president-elect Luis Galarreta.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Torres said that the goal is to have a “more prudent” state and to regain the trust of its citizens.
The incoming bicameral Congress will navigate a highly fragmented political landscape where no single party holds a majority. The new leadership faces the steep challenge of addressing a prolonged governance crisis in the Andean nation, which has seen eight different presidents hold office over the past decade. Peru's Congress is scheduled to formally launch its annual legislative session on Monday.
Related Articles
