00:00After a 24-hour power vacuum, Peru has a new interim president.
00:06When José María Balcazar took the oath of office this Wednesday, he became the country's
00:11eighth leader in a decade.
00:15I am honored by your vote to create and rewrite this new parliament so that I can tell Peruvians
00:22that it's possible to build a democracy, but a true democracy.
00:27Democracy is not working.
00:28I believe that if democracy does not have its own corrective measures, it will disappear
00:34in the future.
00:36Balcazar is from the leftist Peru Libre Party.
00:40He previously worked as a university professor and judge.
00:43He will act as interim president of the country until a new leader is voted in.
00:48Elections are planned for April 12.
00:51During his short mandate, Balcazar faces the task of steadying markets, tackling crime and
00:57overseeing credible elections.
00:59He is replacing ousted leader José Herri, who was voted out of office this Tuesday after
01:05accusations of corruption stemming from an undeclared meeting with Chinese business owners.
01:10Herri was also accused of hiring several women irregularly.
01:14Herri had himself replaced the previous interim president, Dina Boluarte, who was removed on
01:20grounds of moral incapacity.
01:22Peru is going through an extended period of political turmoil.
01:26Over the past decade, four presidents have been impeached, two stepped down to avoid impeachment, and only
01:33one managed to complete his intended term.
01:36excuse me.
01:36L fingernail.
01:37spray Reporter.
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