In a dramatic midnight session, Peru’s Congress has voted to remove President Dina Boluarte from office, bringing an end to her turbulent 22-month rule marked by protests, corruption scandals, and spiralling crime.
The swift impeachment citing Boluarte’s “permanent moral incapacity” passed with 118 votes late Thursday, drawing rare unity across political lines, including former allies. Lawmakers accused her of mishandling crime, enriching herself, and eroding public trust.
Moments after the vote, Jose Jeri, the 38-year-old head of the legislature, was sworn in as Peru’s new president. He promised to restore order and lead a transitional government until April 2026 elections, vowing to take the fight directly to criminal gangs.
“The main enemy is outside in the streets, the criminal gangs. We must declare war on them,” Jeri told Congress in his first address as president.
Boluarte, 63, did not attend the impeachment hearing, with her lawyer arguing she had been denied sufficient time to prepare a defence, calling the process a violation of due process.
Outside parliament in Lima, crowds erupted in celebration. “Down with Dina!” read one protest banner, reflecting the widespread anger that has trailed her presidency since day one.
A congresswoman from the right-wing Popular Renewal party, Norma Yarrow, said the ouster was long overdue:
“The country has been mistreated by the president and her cabinet. Crime has soared she deserves punishment.”
Boluarte, Peru’s first female president took power in December 2022, succeeding Pedro Castillo after his failed attempt to dissolve Congress. Her presidency quickly became mired in controversy, facing multiple corruption probes, including the high-profile “Rolexgate” scandal over undeclared luxury gifts, and public outrage after she increased her own salary in July.
In a defiant video statement released after her removal, Boluarte defended her record, insisting she had fought tirelessly to restore stability.
But her downfall reflects a deeper political crisis in Peru, a nation that has now cycled through seven presidents in just nine years.
Recent months have seen mass protests over economic hardship, a controversial pension reform forcing young workers into private funds, and a surge in gang-related killings and extortion.
Boluarte is the third president ousted by Congress in less than a decade, as Peru’s volatile politics continue to churn. Whether President Jeri can break the cycle of instability remains to be seen.
