Rocío Silva-Santisteban

Rocío Yolanda Angélica Silva-Santisteban Manrique (born 30 January 1963) is a Peruvian poet, academic, activist, and journalist. She serves as a Member of Congress from 2020 to 2021.

Early career

She served as Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Coordinator from 2011 to 2015.

Political career

She was elected to the Congress of the Republic of Peru in 2020 for the Lima constituency, representing the Broad Front party.

Presidency of Congress (2020)

On the 15th of November of the same year, President Manuel Merino, who ascended to the presidency of Peru five days ago upon the impeachment of President Martín Vizcarra, resigned from both the presidency and his de jure role as the president of Congress.

Silva-Santisteban becomes the acting president of Congress during the selection period for a new Congress president, who would also succeed Merino as president of Peru.

She was originally running for the presidency of Congress, but her list was rejected by Congress. The next day, Francisco Sagasti's list won a majority vote, and he became the president of Congress, which also made him the next president of Peru.