Peru swears in new lower‑house deputies amid controversy over ceremony protest

After more than three decades, Peru has inaugurated a new bicameral Congress. On 27 June 2026, the National Jury of Elections (JNE) presented credentials to 130 deputies elected for the 2026‑2031 term, officially establishing the lower house that will sit alongside the Senate. The ceremony began with a minute of silence for victims of recent earthquakes in Venezuela, after which JNE president Roberto Burneo urged the legislators to act ethically and maintain public trust.

The chamber’s composition includes Fuerza Popular with 41 seats, Juntos por el Perú with 32, Partido del Buen Gobierno with 18, Renovación Popular with 15, Partido Cívico Obras with 14 and Ahora Nación with 10. Several elected members drew criticism for past legal issues, such as Yenifer Paredes (JP) – related to former president Pedro Castillo and under investigation for alleged procurement fraud – and César Tito Rojas (JP), linked to the dissolved Movadef organization. Retired police colonel Harvey Colchado (Ahora Nación) topped the vote count with 143,244 votes.

A notable incident involved newly elected deputy Norma Yarrow (Renovación Popular), who refused to pose for the customary photo with JNE president Burneo, snatching her credential from his hands before leaving the podium. She later posted on X, stating, “I cannot pose for a photo with a JNE representative after such contested elections; my principles are non‑negotiable.”