Inside the resignation of Peru's justice minister
Peru’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Juan José Santiváñez, resigned this week, days before Congress was set to debate a motion of censure against him.
His departure also aligns with a legal deadline requiring public officials who intend to run in the 2026 general elections to leave their posts, as mandated by the country’s Electoral Law.
The motion of censure, filed on September 23 by members of Congress from multiple parties, questioned Santiváñez’s suitability for office and cited ongoing investigations into alleged interference during his time at the Ministry of the Interior. Congress had confirmed that the debate and vote would take place on October 3.
Prime Minister Eduardo Arana previously stated he had no official information on planned resignations, despite mounting speculation in the media and growing political pressure.
Santiváñez’s resignation underscores ongoing political instability in Peru, where frequent ministerial changes have complicated governance. Since 2018, the country has seen six presidents and dozens of cabinet reshuffles, raising concerns among international investors and regional observers about policy continuity and institutional credibility.
Until the date of his resignation, Juan José Santiváñez was the head of the Ministry of Justice for just 40 days and left the government of Dina Boluarte when the president had less than a year left in office. In addition, he is retiring with a series of investigations and questions that involve him as a 'key man' of an alleged criminal organisation in which even the president's brother, Nicanor Boluarte, would be involved.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
