The Congress of Peru dismissed President Dina Boluarte this Fridaywithin the framework of a severe insecurity crisis that crosses the country, after a session called by political blocs from all spectrums.
With 123 votes of the 130 parliamentarians present, the president was removed from the position she had held since December 2022.
Instead, he took over as interim president. José Jería 38-year-old lawyer, who took the oath of office early Friday for a term that will extend through July 2026. Peru will celebrate general elections in April.
Since 2016, the Andean country has had seven presidents: three dismissed by Congress including Boluarte, two who resigned before suffering the same fate, one who completed his interim term and now Jerí.
Without her own bench or popular support, the former president found herself cornered by scandals, protests and a wave of extortions and murders by organized crime never seen in Peru.
A busy night
A large majority of legislators voted Thursday to begin a debate on his dismissal for reasons of “moral incapacity” to govern, and called to defend themselves that same night before parliament. However, the president did not appear and the parliamentarians proceeded to vote.
Thus, the Peruvian deputies put an end to the Boluarte Executive less than three years after the beginning of his mandate and in the face of an insecurity crisis that had as its last episode a shooting during a concert in the south of Lima.
“Consequently, the vacancy of the president of the republic has been approved,” announced the head of Congress, José Jeríin the marathon session, before assuming that role himself.
After the motion of no confidence was rejected, legislators also had the option of electing another congressman. However, they decided that the head of the Congress of the Somos Perú party take charge. The 38-year-old leader was sworn in until July 2026.
The Peruvian Congress dismissed President Dina Boluarte after a crisis driven by rising crimeAFP – Congress of the Republic of Peru
After his dismissal, Boluarte spoke out and declared that Congress removed her from office “with the implications that this has for the country’s democracy.” She also defined herself as “a democratic person and woman who comes from the depths, has felt the shortcomings firsthand and has known how to work for the well-being of her people.”
The parliamentary majority had approved the four vacancy motions presented against the 63-year-old president, alleging the “permanent moral incapacity” to exercise the position. The four requests achieved more than 56 voteswith which they were admitted so that the presidential vacancy could be debated later, which implies that the president can go to defend herself in a political trial within a period of between three and ten days.
Since the beginning of his mandate eight legislative vacancy requests had been submitted against Boluartebut none had prospered due to the protection that the president had from the main groups. However, Fuerza Popular, Alianza para el Progreso y Renovación Popular, which protected Boluarte from the beginning of her mandate, announced during the day that they changed their position and that they would support calls to remove the president.
Earlier, Boluarte had indicated in a public activity at the presidential palace that his administration would end on July 28, 2026. In turn, the elections were scheduled for April 12, 2026, where 130 deputies and 60 senators will also be elected.
Source: Ambito
