The interim president of Peru, José María Balcázar, faces a strong wave of criticism after making anti-Semitic statements during an official speech in Lima, which caused immediate rejection by the Jewish community and various political and social sectors.
The controversy originated during an event for the anniversary of the Lima Chamber of Commerce, where the socialist addressed historical issues related to international trade. In this context, Balcázar stated that Germany was “pushed into a war also because, in part, of the Jews”, to whom he attributed influence in banking and practices
such as usury.Although at first the president's words went relatively unnoticed, their subsequent dissemination in the media and social networks generated an immediate reaction. The Jewish Association of Peru issued a statement in which it expressed its “astonishment” at what happened and condemned the use of arguments that it described as “worthy of dark medieval times”. The organization argued that such statements blame the victims for their own extermination, in reference to the Holocaust, and demanded a public apology
from the head of state.The statement also underscored the seriousness of the context in which the statements were made: an official event before ministers, businessmen and diplomatic representatives. For the organization, this not only amplifies the impact of words, but it also projects a worrying image of the position of the Peruvian State on issues of historical memory
