Peru’s Congress Ousts President Dina Boluarte Over Corruption and Security Failures

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte became the latest leader in the country to be ousted over the weekend, following months of political turmoil marked by corruption scandals, deadly protest crackdowns, and a spiraling security crisis that has gripped the country, CNN reported. 

On Friday, lawmakers from across the political aisle voted to remove Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity.” They accused her of failing to curb organized crime and cited a series of corruption allegations, including bribery, abuse of office, and misuse of state resources.  

The president denied the allegations and refused to attend the session.  

Boluarte became Peru’s first female president in December 2022 after the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo. Her downfall comes amid a deepening crisis of governance in Peru, where more than seven presidents have faced trial or legal challenges related to corruption scandals or human rights abuses since 2000. 

Boluarte’s term was marked by growing backlash over the deaths of more than 60 protesters killed by security forces during unrest that followed Castillo’s ouster in early 2023. 

She also came under scrutiny for accepting luxury gifts and secretly undergoing cosmetic surgery while in office without delegating authority, violating constitutional protocol. 

The legislative vote followed closely after a shooting at a concert in the capital that ignited public outrage over rampant gang violence and rising crime in the country. 

Peru recorded 2,082 homicides last year – half of them contract killings – and more than 22,000 cases of extortion, underscoring the challenges ahead for the embattled nation. 

Boluarte will be replaced by Congress President José Jerí, who was sworn in as interim president.  

In one of his first acts, Jerí launched pre-dawn raids at four prisons, where authorities seized cellphones, weapons, and drugs from gang leaders. The new leader pledged he will make it a priority to tackle Peru’s rampant lawlessness, according to the Associated Press. 

Jerí will serve as interim president until July 2026, when Peruvians will select their new president in elections scheduled for April 12.