Peruvian lawmakers elected Jose Balcazar as the country¡¯s new interim president on Wednesday ahead of general elections in April, making him the country¡¯s eighth president in as many years.

Since 2018, Peru ?has cycled through a rapid succession of presidents, exposing a deep rupture between the executive branch and Congress ?and a ?fragmented party system unable to form lasting governing coalitions.

Balcazar, 83, replaces Jose Jeri, ?who was voted out of office by Congress after just four months following a scandal over undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman. Balcazar will also assume the role of head of Congress.