The Popular Force party, led by Peru’s President-elect Keiko Fujimori, secured the Senate presidency on Sunday through an alliance with another conservative party, positioning the incoming government ahead of the presidential inauguration. Miguel Torres was elected president of the Senate with 30 out of 60 votes, in conjunction with the Popular Renewal party, whose member Alejandro Muñante secured the first vice presidency.
This development follows the reinstatement of Peru's bicameral system for the first time in over three decades. The election of Senate leadership comes just two days before Fujimori's scheduled presidential inauguration on July 28 for the 2026-2031 term. The leadership of the lower house, which comprises 130 deputies, is expected to be elected in the coming hours.
During his swearing-in ceremony, Torres stated the objective is to establish a "more prudent" state and to restore public trust. The newly formed bicameral Congress faces the significant challenge of addressing the ongoing governance crisis in the Andean nation, marked by eight presidential changes in the past decade, with no single political force holding a majority.
Torres, a lawyer and politician with prior legislative experience from 2016 to 2020, will serve as Senate president for one year. He was also elected as Peru's second vice president in the recent elections, alongside President-elect Fujimori and First Vice President-elect Luis Galarreta. The Peruvian Congress is set to commence its annual legislative session on Monday.