Peru's Interim President Names Former Economy Minister as Prime Minister

Appointment comes despite earlier announcement of liberal economist as new PM

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Peru's interim President José María Balcázar on Tuesday swore in a former Economy Minister as his new Prime Minister, despite announcing on Sunday that a well-known liberal economist would take the position.

Why it matters

The appointment of the former Economy Minister as Prime Minister signals a shift in the interim government's economic policy direction, potentially away from the liberal reforms that were previously announced.

The details

Balcázar had initially said he would appoint a prominent liberal economist as the new Prime Minister, but instead chose to swear in a former Economy Minister to the position. This suggests the interim government may be taking a more centrist or interventionist economic approach than what was previously indicated.

  • On Sunday, February 23, 2026, Balcázar announced he would appoint a liberal economist as the new Prime Minister.
  • On Tuesday, February 25, 2026, Balcázar swore in a former Economy Minister as the new Prime Minister.

The players

José María Balcázar

The interim President of Peru.

Former Economy Minister

The individual appointed by Balcázar as the new Prime Minister of Peru.

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The takeaway

The unexpected appointment of the former Economy Minister as Prime Minister suggests the interim Peruvian government may be shifting away from the liberal economic reforms that were initially proposed, potentially signaling a more centrist or interventionist approach to economic policy.