Denisse Miralles becomes the first minister of Peru

Lima.- Economist Denisse Miralles was sworn in this Tuesday as the new President of the Congress of Ministers of the Government of transition of Peru, which is chaired by the leftist congressman José Balcázar, despite the fact that it had been officially announced that this position was going to be occupied by the also economist and former presidential candidate Hernando de Soto.

Balcázar swore in Miralles, who was Minister of Economy and Finance in the previous transition government of the right-wing José Jerí, amidst a flurry of rumors in the media and social networks about last-minute disagreements between the new ruler and De Soto regarding the formation of the ministerial cabinet. Before local media pointed out that Miralles was finally going to replace De Soto, 84, the neoliberal economist had assured that he was going to take the position. The Presidency of Peru had announced last Sunday that the economist was going to be the prime minister of the Government that must remain until next July 28, when the winner of the general elections next April will take office. However, in the ceremony held at the Government Palace, and without any official explanation having been offered so far, President Balcázar confirmed the latest rumors by swearing in Miralles as his new chief of staff.

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Balcázar ratifies six ministers

In addition to the economist's continued leadership of the Council of Ministers, Balcázar ratified six other ministers from Jerí's government in their positions, in the portfolios of Foreign Relations, Health, Labor, Production, Transportation and Communications, and Housing and Construction. Following the new prime minister, Balcázar swore in and ratified diplomat Hugo de Zela as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In Economics and Finance, economist Gerardo López González was appointed, who until now was the deputy minister of that portfolio, and in the Ministry of Defense, retired Army General Luis Enrique Arroyo, who was previously head of the National Institute of Civil Defense (Indeci). As Minister of the Interior, Balcázar appointed retired General of the Peruvian National Police (PNP) Hugo Begazo; as Minister of Justice and Human Rights, lawyer Luis Enrique Jiménez; and as Minister of Education, Doctor of Psychology Manuel Castillo. In Health, Dr. Luis Quiroz was ratified; in Agrarian Development and Irrigation, accountant Felipe Meza, who was the general secretary of that office, was ratified; and in Labor and Employment Promotion, lawyer Óscar Fernández was also ratified. In Production, economist César Quispe was ratified; in Foreign Trade and Tourism, lawyer José Reyes was appointed; in Energy and Mines, engineer Angelo Alfaro; in Transportation and Communications, economist Aldo Prieto was ratified; in Housing, Construction and Sanitation, lawyer Wilder Sifuentes was also ratified.

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As Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations, marketing and strategic communication expert Hary Gloria Yzarra was appointed; Nelly Paredes in Environment; and lawyer Fátima Soraya Altabás in Culture, while psychologist Lily Vásquez was appointed in Development and Social Inclusion.