The Peruvian government Thursday appointed legislator Mercedes Cabanillas as its new interior minister, to replace Remigio Hernani, who resigned for personal reasons after five months in office, Xinhua reported.
Prime Minister Yehude Simon made the announcement in the province of Huancavelica, west Peru, where he was on a supervising trip.
Cabanillas, a member of the Peruvian Aprista Party (PAP) and former education minister, said that she was waiting to coordinate the inauguration with Peruvian President Alan Garcia.
Cabanillas served as president of the Congress of Peru from 2006 to 2007.
This will be the second time a woman is in charge of the country's interior portfolio. Former Interior Minister Pilar Mazetti resigned in 2007 amid corruption allegations.