Constitution of Peru (1826)

The 1826 constitution of the Republic of Peru, also known as the "For-Life Constitution" (Spanish: Constitución Vitalicia) was a constitution adopted by the Republic of Peru at the request of Simón Bolívar. In lieu of a formal meeting of the Constituent Assembly of Peru, the constitution was adopted by the electoral college and promulgated on 8 December 1826 by a council of government headed by Peruvian general Andrés de Santa Cruz. Bolívar was sworn in as President of Peru on 7 December, on the second anniversary of the Battle of Ayacucho.^[1]

The 1826 constitution was a modified version of the Bolivian constitution [es], which Bolívar had designed and controversially created a for-life presidency. Bolívar designed that constitution after the liberation of Bolivia from the Spanish and secured its ratification there earlier in 1826, then sought to secure its adoption in Peru and Gran Colombia. With the collapse of his governments in Bolivia and Peru in 1827, however, these constitutions were repealed and Bolívar was deposed as president in both nations. The For-Life Constitution was repealed in Peru on 27 January 1827 and was thus in force for 49 days.