Peru’s Congress removed President Dina Boluarte from office early on Friday, amid increasing public outrage over soaring violent crime, corruption scandals, and her government’s failure to ensure security. Lawmakers voted by an overwhelming margin, citing “permanent moral incapacity,” a constitutional term used in impeachment proceedings. Shortly after midnight, 124 members of the 130-seat Congress voted to impeach her, with no votes recorded against the move.
José Jerí, 38-year-old head of Congress, was sworn in as interim president. He is to serve until the next scheduled general elections in April 2026.
Boluarte, who assumed the presidency in December 2022 following the ouster of Pedro Castillo, saw her approval ratings fall to very low levels as crime surged across Peru. Between January and mid-August 2025, more than 6,000 people were killed, and extortion cases rose sharply. The tipping point for many was a shooting at a concert in Lima, which intensified demands for accountability.
Her presidency was also marked by several corruption investigations, including controversy over undeclared luxury gifts and accusations that she had enriched herself despite holding public office. She was widely criticized for blaming illegal immigration for the country’s crime problems.
The removal of Boluarte is part of a pattern of political instability in Peru. She becomes the sixth consecutive president to leave office without completing a full term. Her interim successor, José Jerí, has pledged to oversee a transitional government focused on addressing public insecurity and preparing for the upcoming election.
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