Through period 2021-2026, the Congress of the Republic He chose one Board of Directors for each legislative year, as established by its regulations. In total, there were six presidencies that passed the maximum position of Parliament in these five years, which included an extraordinary election after the censorship of Congresswoman Lady Camones in 2022.
The winning lists were mostly supported by a coalition of conservative benches, such as Popular Action (AP), Alliance for Progress (APP), Popular Force (FP), Avanza País (AVP), Free Peru (PL) and Popular Renewal (RP). This alliance managed the Parliament and marked a very clear agenda: prioritizing its personal interests and sustaining the regime of Dina Boluarteeven in the middle of the serious complaints for violation of human rights and corruption against him.
Each of the Board of Directors They were hard questioned during their stay in office. Some had judicial or ethical complaints, and others for promoting laws that limited transparency, strengthened the political control of the Congress and benefited from organized crime. This legislative period, for which the congressman of We are Peru, José Jeríwill also be remembered as the last unicameral, because in 2024 the return to bicamerality for the next 2026 general electionswithout citizen consultation and which was told not in 2018.
José Jerí, between complaints and the continuity of the pact
José Jerí He is the new president of the Congress For this last legislative period. With 79 votes in his favor, during his election, the congressmen Wilson Quispe and Jaime Quitoof the socialist bench, they starred in a symbolic ‘protest’, in which they wrote in their votes phrases such as “below the dictatorship” and “Puno is respected.” The winning formula was supported by the benches of Popular Force, Avanza country, popular renewal and app.
Jerí He came to the position with complaints for alleged sexual violation and illicit enrichment, although he has denied all the positions. Despite this, he received the support of the main hemicycle banks. Its management is aimed to continue with the pact between the Legislative and Executive that protects a Boluarte.
The New Board of Directors It is composed of congressmen Fernando Rospigliosi (FP)as first vice president; Waldemar Cerrón (PL)who continues in the second vice presidency; and Ilich López (AP) in the position of third vice president. The era Jerí Start with a Parliament that has hardly 2% citizen approvalbeing one of the most rejected in recent history.
Eduardo Sallejuana and the return to bicamerality (2024-2025)
Eduardo Sallejuanalegislator of the App, assumed the presidency of the Congress with 95 votes in his favor. His companions were Patricia Juárez (FP), Waldemar Cerrón (PL) and Alejandro Cavero (AVP) in the first, second and third vice presidency respectively. His choice reflected the almost total control of the benches that are part of the pact that supports Boluartewho dominated the Board of Directors and the most important commissions.
During its management, Congress approved the return to bicamerality ignoring that the citizens rejected it in the 2018 referendum. This initiative was harshly criticized by various sectors, which denounced that such electoral reform only benefited political elites by creating new spaces of power for these.
In addition, a series of laws that reduced the mechanisms of electoral control and initiatives that limited the work of the various bodies of justice in the fight against crime and organized crime were promoted. Various parliamentarians described as ‘bad’ the management of Sash and criticized that the hemicycle has been used as a job bank during its presidency.
Alejandro Soto, ethical scandals and political armor (2023-2024)
Alejandro Sotoof Appit reached the Board of Directors With 77 votes, but, like Jeríhe faced questions before assuming his position. Soto was accused of plagiarizing his thesis, of making improper charges to the State and benefiting with legislative changes that paralyzed judicial processes against him. His management was accompanied by Hernando Guerra-García (FP), Waldemar Cerrón (PL) and Rosselli Amuruz (AVP).
During the legislative period 2023-2024, the Congress It was a space where the complaints that questioned Soto’s ethics were systematically dismissed. The president of the Board of Directors He denied all the accusations against him, but never offered a clear response about his investigations. His case became a symbol of parliamentary impunity, even when various journalists revealed information that compromised him.
Added to this, the Parliament approved during that period the known ‘Soto Law’which reduces the suspension terms of the criminal prescription and facilitates the file of complaints, benefiting the president of the hemicycle. Another of the controversial initiatives of this period was the restriction of the schedule to submit requests for access to public information and was eliminated from the portal of the Congress The registration of the contracted personnel, which prevented the monitoring of possible cases of nepotism.
José Williams Zapata, the presidency that supported Dina Boluarte (2022-2023)
The arrival of José WilliamsAvanza País, was marked by the political crisis. He was elected president of the Parliament With 67 votes in favor after the censorship of Lady Camones. Months after the position, in December 2022 he began a serious political crisis after the failed attempt to close the Congress by Pedro Castillowho was later vacated and with a Dina Boluarte Assuming the Presidency of the Republic.
Under his legislative period, the Congress He avoided debating police repression in the context of protests against the regime of Boluarte that left more than 50 dead as balance. Nor was investigations or mechanisms of political control promoted. In contrast, its passage through the Board of Directors The Alliance began Legislative-executive.
Despite the questions, Williams He remained firm in his position and promoted laws favorable to the ruling, such as the return to bicamerality in a first vote, the elimination of open primary elections and Law 32108 that flexible the definition of organized crime and limited the powers of the Public Ministry. His mandate consolidated the role of Congress As a political support of the Government, leaving aside its supervisory function in exchange for institutional stability for the regime.
Lady Camones, and her censorship after ‘obey’ César Acuña (2022-2023)
Lady CamonesAPP congressman, he presided over the Congress With 73 votes in favor and his list included Martha Moyano (FP), worthy street of Podemos Peru (PP) and Wilmar Elera de Somos Peru. However, his permanence in office was only 42 days after being censored after the dissemination of an audio where, allegedly, he received orders from César Acuñaleader of his party, to approve a law that favored his political interests in the La Libertad region, where he currently occupies the position of regional governor.
The scandal showed how party leaders use the congressmen of their benches as legislative operators. Camons He denied having committed some irregularity, but the evidence was clear. Due to public pressure and some banks, its censorship was quickly approved with 61 votes.
By having a brief mandate, Lady Camones It did not present structural reforms or relevant legislative proposals. However, its fall revealed the limits of parliamentary autonomy against the particular interests of the parties that make up the Congress. His departure made way for a new election, which was won by José Williams.
Maricarmen Alva and the beginning of the confrontation (2021-2022)
The congresswoman María del Carmen Alva (AP) She was the first president of the Congress For Quinquenio 2021-2026. His formula won the election with 69 votes and was made up of Lady Camones (app), Enrique Wong (PP) and Patricia Chirinoswho at that time belonged to the bench of Country progress. His management was characterized by a marked frontal agenda towards the former president’s government Pedro Castillowhich he accused of authoritarian and populist.
From its beginning in office, Alva It was one of the main drivers of the presidential vacancy together with a conservative sector of Parliament. During its management, a series of audios and versions were disseminated that linked it with alleged coordinated attempts to take out Castle of power through unconstitutional mechanisms. In addition, his deal with some leftist congressmen, even with the former president, was harshly criticized by discriminatory and authoritarian. Despite complaints, most of the Congress He shielded his management.
Members of the Board of Directorssuch as Chirinos and Wong, were pointed out by incendiary statements and little respect for the democratic debate. Parliament under its leadership was perceived as one of the most polarized in recent years, characterized by its inability to dialogue or willingness to institutional reform.
