The Congress of Peru Removes the President and Installs the Legislative Chief as the New Leader
Jose Jeri, the head of the legislature, was inaugurated in as the new leader of Peru after the country’s Congress ousted President Dina Boluarte.
After parliament unanimously decided to remove President Dina Boluarte from office on the grounds of “moral incapacity,” Peru has once again found itself at the center of political turmoil. Congress swore in its leader, Jose Jeri, as the nation’s next president a few minutes later. Jeri is the sixth leader Peru has had since 2016.
Just hours after many political blocs presented motions to remove Boluarte, one of the least popular heads of state in the world, the dramatic vote and swearing-in ceremony occurred Friday just after midnight. Due to accusations of corruption and accountability for the brutal crackdowns on protestors throughout her government, her approval rating had fallen to between 2% and 4%.
Shortly after her departure, 63-year-old Boluarte spoke to the nation from the presidential palace, stating that the same Congress that had elected her in December 2022 had now voted her out. She stated, “At every moment, I called for unity,” cautioning that her dismissal would have a significant impact on the stability of Peru’s democracy.
Jose Jeri, 38, a member of the conservative Somos Peru party, wore the national flag’s sash when he took the oath of office. He promised to handle the nation’s escalating security situation in his first speech to Congress, which was one of the main accusations made against Boluarte.
“Criminal gangs are the main enemy out there on the streets,” Jeri said. “The war on crime must be declared.”
Following her evacuation, crowds celebrated with flags, dancing, and music outside the Congress building and the Ecuadorean embassy, where there were rumors that Boluarte may apply for refuge.
Following months of escalating political unrest and accusations of wrongdoing, Boluarte was overthrown. She was called by lawmakers late Thursday night to explain herself in front of Congress, but she did not show up, which allowed for a quick impeachment vote.
Her demise reflects a concerning pattern in Peruvian politics. The Andean country has experienced an unusually high pace of presidential transitions since 2016, with three past leaders presently serving prison sentences. Several moves to remove Boluarte had been defeated by Congress before, but this most recent attempt gained traction because right-wing groups that had previously backed her, such as Rafael Lopez’s Popular Renewal and Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force, joined calls for her removal.
Former President Pedro Castillo was arrested in December 2022 for trying to dissolve Congress, and Boluarte took over as president in December 2022. Protests sparked throughout her reign, especially in Indigenous and rural Andean areas, where security forces were accused of deploying excessive force.
Boluarte was accused of unlawful enrichment more recently, allegedly having increased her income in July and possessing luxury assets including Rolex watches that she had not disclosed. She has denied any misconduct.
The country is tired of political unrest and economic uncertainty when Jose Jeri becomes government. For many Peruvians, the leadership shift is just another chapter in a lengthy tale of political unrest, even though his call for unity and a crackdown on crime may mark a new approach.
