Pedro Cateriano

Pedro Álvaro Cateriano Bellido (born June 26, 1958) is a Peruvian lawyer and politician. In July 2020, he became the Prime Minister of Peru under Martín Vizcarra's administration. He left the position on 6 August 2020. He was Ollanta Humala's Minister of Defense from July 2012 to April 2015, and Prime Minister from April 2015 to July 2016.

Pedro Cateriano
Prime Minister of Peru
In office July 15, 2020 – 6 August 2020
President	Martín Vizcarra
Preceded by	Vicente Zeballos
Succeeded by	Walter Martos
In office April 2, 2015 – July 28, 2016
President	Ollanta Humala
Preceded by	Ana Jara
Succeeded by	Fernando Zavala
Minister of Defense
In office July 23, 2012 – April 2, 2015
President	Ollanta Humala
Prime Minister	Juan Jiménez Mayor César Villanueva René Cornejo Ana Jara
Preceded by	José Antonio Urquizo
Succeeded by	Jakke Valakivi
Deputy Minister of Justice
In office July 31, 2001 – June 21, 2002
President	Alejandro Toledo
Prime Minister	Roberto Dañino
Minister	Fernando Olivera
Preceded by	Juan Jiménez Mayor
Succeeded by	Alfredo Antonio Solf Montalve
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office July 26, 1990 – April 5, 1992
Constituency	Lima
Personal details
Born	(1958-06-26) June 26, 1958 Lima, Peru
Nationality	Peruvian
Political party	Independent (1992-present)
Other political affiliations	Liberty Movement (1989–1992)
Alma mater	Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (LLB) Complutense University

Biography

Born in the capital city of Lima in 1958, Cateriano pursued a law degree at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, specializing in constitutional law. During his brief term in the Peruvian Congress between 1990 and 1992, Cateriano attained a prominent role as a ranking member of the congressional investigative committee on Alan García's first administration (1985-1990). Alongside Lourdes Flores and Fernando Olivera, the committee was ultimately disbanded following García's acquittal by the Supreme Court in March 1992. Cateriano published in the following years a detailed work on the investigation.

After a failed run for the Peruvian Congress, Cateriano worked extensively in opposition to Alberto Fujimori's presidency, ultimately being appointed to the Constitutional Reform Advisory Body of the Ministry of Justice in the presidency of Valentín Paniagua. Subsequently, he was appointed under Alejandro Toledo's presidency as Deputy Minister of Justice, serving until his resignation in June 2002, alongside minister and former colleague, Fernando Olivera.

During the presidency of Ollanta Humala, Cateriano served as Minister of Defense from July 2012 to April 2015. In his almost three-year tenure, he remained a controversial member of Humala's administration, constantly clashing with the opposition regarding the government's modus operandi, in which First Lady Nadine Heredia seemingly interfered with government decisions. He also faced criticism for his support of pecuniary sanctions on voluntary military service enrollment, which the Constitutional Court declared the measure unconstitutional. Upon the resignation of Ana Jara on 2 April 2015, due to her being censured by the Peruvian Congress regarding illegal government espionage under her management as Prime Minister of Peru, Cateriano was appointed as her successor. Seemed by pundits as a government loyalist, he served through the end of Humala's presidency.

Cateriano was sworn as Prime Minister of Peru on 15 July 2020, succeeding Vicente Zeballos as the government faces strong criticism due to Vizcarra's management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. He would serve until 4 August 2020, less than three weeks in office, as Congress voted against his confirmation and left office on 6 August 2020.