By Deborah Nnamdi
Peru’s Congress has removed President Dina Boluarte from office, ending her turbulent tenure marked by corruption probes, violent crime, and persistent protests.
Lawmakers voted just after midnight on Friday to impeach Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity,” a constitutional clause frequently invoked in Peru’s political crises. The motion secured 118 votes — far exceeding the threshold needed for removal — with support from across the political spectrum, including former allies of the president.
Shortly after the vote, Jose Jeri, 38, head of the legislature, was sworn in as the new president. He will lead a transitional government until general elections scheduled for April 2026.
In his inaugural address, Jeri pledged to restore public order and confront the country’s escalating crime wave.
“The main enemy is outside, in the streets — the criminal gangs, the crime groups… we must declare war on them,” he said.
Boluarte, 63, who did not appear before Congress during the impeachment proceedings, released a video statement afterward defending her record and denying allegations of corruption. Her lawyer, Juan Carlos Portugal, condemned the process as rushed and unfair, arguing that she was given too little time to prepare a defense.
Outside Congress in Lima, jubilant crowds gathered to celebrate her removal, waving flags and chanting “Down with Dina.”
Boluarte, who took power in December 2022 after the ousting of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, faced widespread discontent throughout her administration. Her presidency was dogged by investigations into alleged corruption — including the so-called “Rolexgate” scandal over undeclared luxury gifts — as well as criticism over a self-approved pay raise in July.
Public anger also deepened following the passage of a controversial law forcing young workers to contribute to private pension funds, in a country where more than 70 percent of the workforce is informally employed.
Peru has now seen seven presidents in nine years, underscoring the country’s chronic political instability. Boluarte is the third leader to be removed by Congress in less than a decade, as the nation continues to grapple with corruption, economic inequality, and rising violent crime.
