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.

## 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.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Pedro Cateriano
- **image**: Pedro Cateriano Bellido.jpg
- **imagesize**: 260px
- **office**: Prime Minister of Peru
- **president**: Martín Vizcarra
- **term start**: July 15, 2020
- **term end**: 6 August 2020
- **predecessor**: Vicente Zeballos
- **successor**: Walter Martos
- **president1**: Ollanta Humala
- **term start1**: April 2, 2015
- **term end1**: July 28, 2016
- **predecessor1**: Ana Jara
- **successor1**: Fernando Zavala
- **office2**: Ministry of Defense (Peru), Minister of Defense
- **president2**: Ollanta Humala
- **primeminister2**: Juan Jiménez Mayor
César Villanueva
René Cornejo
Ana Jara
- **term start2**: July 23, 2012
- **term end2**: April 2, 2015
- **predecessor2**: José Antonio Urquizo
- **successor2**: Jakke Valakivi
- **office3**: Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (Peru), Deputy Minister of Justice
- **president3**: Alejandro Toledo
- **primeminister3**: Roberto Dañino
- **minister3**: Fernando Olivera
- **term start3**: July 31, 2001
- **term end3**: June 21, 2002
- **predecessor3**: Juan Jiménez Mayor
- **successor3**: Alfredo Antonio Solf Montalve
- **office4**: Congress of Peru, Member of the Chamber of Deputies
- **term start4**: July 26, 1990
- **term end4**: April 5, 1992
- **constituency4**: Lima
- **birth place**: Lima, Peru
- **nationality**: vian
- **party**: Independent politician, Independent
- **otherparty**: Liberty Movement
- **alma mater**: Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (LLB)
Complutense University of Madrid, Complutense University