The interim president José Jerí responded this Saturday to the investigation that the Special election jury (JEE) of Lima Centro has filed charges against him for allegedly violating the principle of electoral neutrality. The organization considered that his statements about his involvement in Somos Perú, made during a television interview, could influence voting intentions with a view to the 2026 general elections.
In dialogue with journalists, the President explained that he had already submitted his defense measures to the relevant authorities. “My legal defense is that it is part of the first instance that the jury has. I will continue to put forward my relevant defenses. It was not a party statement, nor did I promote it as such. It was an answer to a question they asked me,” he said.
“I am of the opinion that I have not violated the principle of neutrality and I hope that the jury in the final instance in plenary will correct some excesses that may have occurred in the first instance,” he added.
According to the document broadcast by radio station RPP, the JEE concluded that the interim president’s statements “would not only favor the political organization Partido Democrático Somos Perú, but also influence the electoral intentions of third parties.” After confirming his party affiliation, the jury recommended that the report be presented to the plenary session so that it can act in accordance with the applicable regulations.
The investigation against the ruler began after the interview he gave to the program on November 23rd The value of truthwhere he described Somos Perú as his “only political love” and explained that he has “a sense of belonging and representation” towards this party.
At the same press conference, Jerí also confirmed his participation in the binational meeting with Ecuador on December 12th. “One of the issues we have on the agenda is the joint fight against the multinational crime that exists today,” he said.
“So, one of the important points, and we are already underway with vigorous work, an important, vigorous result, and we will add other important agenda items,” he added.
Jerí, elected congressman by Somos Perú in the 2021 general elections and appointed President of the Parliament last July, will not run in the 2026 elections, which include the elections for the bicameral Congress, and his party’s presidential candidacy is led by former municipal mayor George Forsyth, who is also not among the favorites in voting intention polls.
The interim president will hand over the presidency of Peru to the candidate chosen from among 39 candidates in the April 12 presidential election, which is expected to be decided in a second round in June.
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