Political Turmoil in Peru: Congress Votes to Remove Interim President José Jerí

LIMA, Peru (AP) — On Tuesday, Peru’s Congress decided to remove interim President José Jerí amid corruption allegations, intensifying political instability just ahead of the general elections scheduled for April.

Jerí is currently under preliminary investigation for corruption and influence peddling, related to undisclosed meetings with two Chinese business executives.

In a legislative vote, 75 members supported his removal, 24 opposed it, and three abstained. Jerí had taken office on October 10, following the dismissal of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, as crime rates escalated.

The turbulent political landscape sees Peru grappling with a history of seven presidents since 2016, as citizens express dissatisfaction over the rising tide of violent crime. Lawmakers will now elect a new president from among themselves, who will serve until the winner of the April 12 election takes office in July.

Accusations against Jerí stemmed from a leaked report detailing a secret meeting in December with two Chinese executives, one of whom has government contracts, while the other is under investigation for illegal logging activities.

Jerí has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that his intention was merely to organize a cultural event. Despite frequent changes in leadership, Peru’s economy remains robust, with a public debt-to-GDP ratio of just 32% in 2024, making it one of the lowest in Latin America.

As Peru gears up for the upcoming elections, conservative businessman and former Lima Mayor Rafael Lopez Aliaga leads a diverse field of candidates, which includes Keiko Fujimori, who previously served as a legislator. If no candidate achieves a majority, a runoff will take place in June. Over the past decade, legislators in Peru have increasingly exercised their power over the executive branch, prompting removals based on corruption investigations.