Peru’s Congress voted Tuesday to remove interim President José Jerí from office, triggering a fresh wave of political instability just weeks before the nation’s April presidential election. The move makes Peru the only nation in the Western Hemisphere to have removed two presidents in less than six months, and the sixth president to depart office before the complete of their term in the past decade.
Jerí, 39, a lawyer and former head of Congress, had been in office for just four months, having been appointed in October following the removal of Dina Boluarte. His removal leaves the country facing a period of uncertainty as it prepares for elections on April 12, with a novel president scheduled to be sworn in on July 28.
The impeachment proceedings stemmed from allegations of corruption and influence peddling. Peru’s Attorney General’s office launched a preliminary investigation earlier this year into Jerí’s undisclosed meetings with two Chinese businessmen in December. One of the businessmen holds active government contracts, while the other is under investigation for alleged involvement in illegal logging, according to reports.
Jerí acknowledged meeting with the businessmen, stating he did so to discuss a potential Peruvian-Chinese festivity, but denied any wrongdoing. However, legislators cited the allegations as grounds for removal, invoking a constitutional clause that allows for the removal of presidents deemed “morally incapable” of executing their duties. This clause has been frequently used in recent years, contributing to the country’s political volatility.
The vote to impeach Jerí was 75 to 24, with three abstentions, passing seven motions of impeachment against the former head of Congress. Following the vote, Fernando Rospigliosi, the current acting head of Congress, declined to assume the presidency. Lawmakers will convene Wednesday to choose a new interim president to serve until the July inauguration.
The upcoming presidential election features a crowded field of candidates. Rafael López Aliaga, a conservative businessman and former mayor of Lima, is currently considered a frontrunner, alongside Keiko Fujimori, who is making her third bid for the presidency. Fujimori’s father, Alberto Fujimori, served as Peru’s president in the 1990s. If no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote in April, a runoff election will be held in June.
Despite the frequent changes in leadership, Peru’s economy has remained relatively stable over the past decade, adhering to orthodox economic policies. In 2024, the nation’s public debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 32%, one of the lowest in Latin America, and the country continues to attract foreign investment in sectors like mining and infrastructure. However, concerns have been raised regarding legislation passed by Congress that some observers believe threatens the independence of Peru’s judiciary.