Aníbal Torres

Torres was born in Chota, Cajamarca. He was a lawyer and university professor at the National University of San Marcos. He graduated as a lawyer in 1970 and as a doctor, in Law and Political Science, from the same university in 1987. He studied Civil and Commercial Law at the Universitá Degli Studi di Roma (1970–1971).^[3]

He was director and dean of the Lima Bar Association, dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science of the National University of San Marcos, President of the Board of Deans of the Peruvian Bar Associations, honorary president of the Peruvian Academy of Laws, member of the Patriotic Commission for the Defense of the Mar de Grau, the Peruvian Institute of Air Law, the Academy of Aeronautical History of Peru, honorary member of the bar associations of Loreto, Puno, Cusco, Cajamarca, and Apurímac. He is the author of various publications on civil law and administrative law.^[3][4]

At the 2011 Peruvian general election, Torres unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Peruvian Congress with Peru Wins for the constituency of Lima.^[5]

Torres supported Yonhy Lescano, Popular Action's presidential nominee in the first round of the 2021 Peruvian general election.^[6] For the second round of the general election, Torres became the main legal advisor for Pedro Castillo's presidential campaign. Castillo would ultimately win the election.

On 30 July 2021, Torres was appointed Minister of Justice and Human Rights by Pedro Castillo at the start of his presidential term.^[7]

On 8 February 2022, Torres was sworn in as Prime Minister of Peru, succeeding the short-lived and disgraced Héctor Valer in the position. He became the fourth cabinet head in less than a year in the Castillo administration.^[8]

On 22 April 2022, Torres stated to the IV Decentralized Council of Ministers that "some senior military members speak in the same direction to carry out the coup d'état" against Castillo. He also stated they were planning to place "the lady who lost the elections" in power, in a clear reference to Keiko Fujimori and her loss in the 2021 general election.^[9]

On 3 August 2022, Torres resigned as Prime Minister, claiming personal reasons. At the time, President Castillo was facing five separate criminal investigations.^[10] The resignation was rejected by President Castillo.^[11]

On 24 November 2022, Torres resigned again. It was accepted and Minister of Culture Betssy Chávez was selected by President Castillo to replace him.^[12]