Upon completing his first month at the head of the Republic, President José Jerí offered an interview to América Televisión, in which he took stock of his transition management, marked—as he said—by a style “more direct, present and closer to the citizens.” In the midst of a complex political and social context, the president highlighted his intention to differentiate himself from his predecessors and strengthen the link between the Executive and the population.
Jerí stated that his team works “quickly in making decisions” and that communication with citizens is constantly maintained through various channels, including social networks. “There is a government in charge of the country,” he stressed, emphasizing that his leadership model seeks transparency, direct contact and visible results. “Presence, listening and action” were the three words he used to define his management style.
The president recognized that citizen security is one of the greatest concerns of his government. Faced with the increase in homicides and the feeling of insecurity, he admitted that the indicators “have not yet improved.” However, he assured that the first objective was to prevent the numbers from continuing to increase, and that the next stage will be to achieve a sustained reduction. “We are acting in the street, with direct presence,” he stated, suggesting a more operational approach in the actions of the State.
Although he did not present specific figures or goals, Jerí announced that the responsible ministries will be in charge of providing these technical details. He explained that the current priority is to consolidate an immediate intervention plan in the areas most affected by crime, while strengthening coordination with regional and local governments. “Every day we set new objectives in the face of this problem,” he said.
“A government has to set objectives and goals and schedule everything because if not, good intentions will fly away,” he expressed.
In addition, he questioned the criticism of some former authorities: “We will be criticized by people who may have been able to do more at the time and have not wanted to do so. And there are a lot of omissions on the part of authorities who have been able to make changes and have never wanted to make them, but we will detail that in due course because there is relevant information that the population should know for transparency. “I am referring to a series of officials who did not want to work.”
Likewise, he referred to the statistics of the state of emergency so far.
“The figures we are managing are encouraging, but we have not met the objective yet, the minimum objective that we are setting for ourselves”he detailed.
At another time, the president was asked about criticism related to his salary and responded bluntly: “I am currently not paid as president.” He explained that he maintains his remuneration as a congressman and that any modification in the Executive salary scale must be part of a comprehensive policy. “These are not isolated gestures, but decisions that respect fiscal balance and control of public spending,” he emphasized, seeking to end the controversy on the issue.
Likewise, Jerí announced the start of a national tour that will last three months, with scheduled visits to various regions twice a week. The president announced that he will visit capitals, provinces and districts, with the aim of reinforcing the presence of the State in the territory. “Territorial presence is key to collecting demands and showing concrete action from the Executive,” he stated and added that the first stop will be Huánuco.
One month after assuming the presidency, José Jerí seeks to project the image of an active leader, who listens and acts, in the midst of a country that demands quick and effective responses. His promise to be “on the street,” to tour the country and maintain open communication with citizens, sets the tone for an administration that aims to regain trust in the institutions and demonstrate that, as he himself said, “there is a government in charge of the country.”
