Peru's interim president seeks lifelong pension from Congress

Peru's interim President José María Balcázar has formally requested that Congress grant him a lifelong pension upon the conclusion of his term on July 28. Balcázar, who also holds a seat in Congress for the Marxist Perú Libre party, based his petition on the constitutional succession that led him to assume the presidency.

In a document submitted to Parliament, Balcázar sought "recognition and granting of a lifelong pension," a benefit provided to former presidents according to Peru's constitution and general administrative procedure law. He stated that having concluded his mandate as head of state, it is appropriate to regularize his retirement status in accordance with the dignity of the office he held.

However, local media have pointed to a 2022 statement from the Congressional Constitution Commission. The commission previously clarified that lifelong pensions for ex-presidents should not be broadly applied. It suggested the benefit should be reserved for those elected by the people and who completed their full five-year constitutional term.

Peru has experienced significant political turmoil, with eight different leaders in the last decade. Balcázar assumed the presidency on February 18, succeeding José Jerí, who was removed by Parliament. Balcázar's path to the interim presidency involved becoming president of Congress after Jerí's ouster, allowing him to take the head of state role through constitutional succession until the end of July.

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recognition and granting of a lifelong pension