10 years, 10 presidents. Peru’s leaders don’t last. Voters will try again.

Democracy Dies in DarknessElections on Sunday offer Peruvians another once-in-five-years chance to set the nation on a new path. All signs suggest they won’t.April 12, 2026 at 4:59 a.m. EDT2 minutes agoJosé Balcázar speaks to reporters in Lima after Peruvian lawmakers elected him interim president in February following the ouster of José Jeri. (Angela Ponce/Reuters)By Simeon TegelLIMA, Peru — If one thing unites Peruvians, it’s their visceral disdain for the political class.Interim President José Balcázar’s approval ratings are stuck in the mid-teens — but that’s enough to put him ahead of Congress, which is flirting with single digits.