Peru’s political turmoil deepened early Friday as lawmakers voted unanimously to remove President Dina Boluarte from office and swiftly swore in Congress chief Jose Jeri as the country’s new leader, less than an hour later.
The dramatic overnight session marked the downfall of one of the world’s least popular heads of state. Boluarte, 63, was ousted on grounds of “moral incapacity” following mounting accusations of corruption and her government’s heavy-handed response to protests.
Jeri, a 38-year-old member of the conservative Somos Peru party and Congress president since July, becomes Peru’s seventh president since 2016. Taking the oath of office just after midnight, he promised to confront the country’s escalating insecurity crisis.
“The main enemy is out there on the streets: criminal gangs,” Jeri told Congress while donning the presidential sash. “We must declare war on crime.”
Outside Congress, crowds gathered, some celebrating the change with flags, music, and dancing, while others kept vigil near the Ecuadorean embassy amid rumors that Boluarte might seek asylum there.
In a televised address from the presidential palace shortly after her ouster, Boluarte acknowledged Congress’s decision, saying, “At every moment, I called for unity. The same Congress that swore me in in 2022 has now voted for my removal, with all the implications this has for the stability of our democracy.”
Boluarte, who rose to power in December 2022 after the impeachment of former President Pedro Castillo, faced approval ratings as low as 2–4%.
Her tenure was marred by allegations of illicit enrichment, including undeclared luxury watches, and criticism over deadly crackdowns on protests in support of Castillo, particularly in rural and Indigenous regions. She has denied all wrongdoing.
Her removal underscores Peru’s chronic political instability — the Andean nation has seen a revolving door of leaders, with three former presidents currently imprisoned.
Congress’s decision represented a sharp reversal after multiple failed attempts to impeach Boluarte. This time, even right-wing parties that had previously supported her, including Rafael López Aliaga’s Popular Renewal and Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force, backed her removal.
Both leaders are expected to contest the April 2026 presidential election.
Jeri’s ascension marks a generational shift in Peruvian politics, as he joins the ranks of the world’s youngest sitting presidents.
However, with widespread distrust in the political class and persistent social unrest, his administration faces immediate challenges in restoring stability and public confidence.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
