Following months of public anger over surging crime, corruption allegations, and deep political instability, Peruvian lawmakers voted just after midnight on Friday to impeach President Dina Boluarte, abruptly ending her turbulent tenure.
Shortly after the vote, Congress Speaker José Jeri, 38, was sworn in as Peru’s new interim president. In his inaugural address, Jeri pledged to restore order and lead the country until fresh elections scheduled for April 2026.
“Our greatest threat is not within these walls, but on our streets, the criminal gangs and organized networks terrorizing our people,” Jeri said. “We will not rest until we reclaim safety for every Peruvian”.
The impeachment motion, citing Boluarte’s “permanent moral incapacity,” sailed through Congress late Thursday with 118 votes in favor, easily surpassing the required threshold. Lawmakers across rival parties backed the move, accusing the president of failing to stem rampant insecurity and govern effectively.
Boluarte, who did not appear for the late-night congressional session, was represented by her lawyer Juan Carlos Portugal, who criticized the proceedings as rushed and lacking due process.
Outside Congress, crowds erupted in celebration, waving Peruvian flags and chanting “Down with Dina!” — a reflection of the public frustration that had dogged her 22-month presidency.
63-year-old Boluarte came to power in December 2022 following the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, but her administration was immediately beset by mass protests and political turmoil. Over time, her government faced multiple corruption investigations, including the so-called “Rolexgate” scandal involving undeclared luxury watches and jewelry.
Critics also pointed to her decision to approve a controversial salary increase for herself in July, while pushing through unpopular pension reforms that deepened economic discontent.
In a video statement released after her removal, Boluarte defended her record and denied all allegations of wrongdoing, insisting her government had worked “to stabilize the country amid adversity.”
However, public patience had long worn thin. With crime soaring, unemployment high, and governance mired in scandal, her downfall marks yet another chapter in Peru’s ongoing political instability, the country’s seventh change of leadership in just nine years.
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