Peru has once again found itself at the centre of political upheaval after lawmakers voted unanimously to remove President Dina Boluarte from office, citing “moral incapacity.” Just minutes later, Congress swore in its chief, Jose Jeri, as the country’s new president — the seventh leader Peru has seen since 2016.
The dramatic vote and swearing-in took place shortly after midnight on Friday, only hours after multiple political blocs introduced motions to oust Boluarte, one of the world’s least popular heads of state. Her approval rating had plummeted to between 2% and 4%, amid allegations of corruption and responsibility for violent crackdowns on protesters during her administration.
Boluarte, 63, addressed the nation from the presidential palace shortly after her removal, acknowledging that the same Congress which elevated her to power in December 2022 had now voted her out. “At every moment, I called for unity,” she said, warning that her removal carried serious implications for Peru’s democratic stability.
Meanwhile, Jose Jeri, a 38-year-old member of the conservative Somos Peru party, took the oath of office wearing the sash of the national flag. In his first address to Congress, he pledged to tackle the country’s growing security crisis — one of the major criticisms levelled against Boluarte.
“The main enemy is out there on the streets: criminal gangs,” Jeri declared. “We must declare war on crime.”
Crowds gathered outside the Congress building and the Ecuadorean embassy — where rumours suggested Boluarte might seek asylum — celebrating her removal with flags, dancing, and music.
Boluarte’s fall came after months of deepening political tension and allegations of misconduct. Lawmakers summoned her late Thursday night to defend herself before Congress, but she failed to appear, paving the way for a swift impeachment vote.
Her downfall mirrors a troubling trend in Peruvian politics. Since 2016, the Andean nation has cycled through presidents at an extraordinary rate, with three former leaders currently imprisoned. Congress had previously rejected several motions to remove Boluarte, but this latest effort gained momentum after right-wing parties that once supported her — including Rafael Lopez’s Popular Renewal and Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force — joined calls for her ouster.
Boluarte originally assumed power after the dramatic downfall of former President Pedro Castillo, who was arrested in December 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress. Her tenure was immediately marred by protests, particularly in rural Andean and Indigenous regions, where security forces were accused of using excessive force.
More recently, Boluarte faced allegations of illicit enrichment, including claims that she owned undeclared luxury assets such as Rolex watches and had doubled her salary in July. She has denied all wrongdoing.
As Jose Jeri assumes office, he inherits a nation weary of political instability and economic uncertainty. His call for unity and a crackdown on crime may signal a new direction, but for many Peruvians, the change in leadership is yet another chapter in a long saga of political turbulence.
Melissa Enoch
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