Peru’s President Boluarte Removed by Congress; Successor Declares ‘War on Crime’ [WATCH]

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to remove President Dina Boluarte from office on grounds of “moral incapacity,” and swiftly swore in congressional leader Jose Jeri as the nation’s new head of state, as reported by The New York Post.

The move came amid growing anger over violent crime, corruption allegations, and a major political scandal involving the outgoing president.

Boluarte, one of the most unpopular leaders in Peru’s modern history, was ousted just after midnight following a unanimous vote in Congress.

¡Perú sin presidente! Vacan por incapacidad moral a Dina Boluarte tras irregularidades y cuestionamientos durante su mandato.

Exmandataria no acudió al Congreso de la República para defenderse de las 4 mociones de #vacancia en su contra, y fue destituida de Palacio de Gobierno.… pic.twitter.com/oOeNDPdAzw

— GM (@arroba_gerzon) October 10, 2025

Lawmakers cited her handling of the country’s worsening security crisis, economic instability, and the so-called “Rolexgate” scandal involving undeclared luxury watches.

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Within an hour of the vote, Jeri was sworn in as Peru’s seventh president since 2016. The 38-year-old congressman from the conservative Somos Peru party pledged an aggressive campaign against criminal organizations that have fueled widespread unrest.

“The main enemy is out there on the streets: criminal gangs,” Jeri told lawmakers as he donned the presidential sash. “We must declare war on crime.”

Jeri, who became Congress president in July, now joins the ranks of the world’s youngest heads of state. He inherits a deeply divided country facing economic uncertainty and public distrust in government institutions.

The vote to remove Boluarte came just hours after a violent incident added to national outrage.

Several members of the popular cumbia group Agua Marina were injured in a shooting during a concert held Wednesday night at a military-owned venue in Lima, intensifying criticism of the government’s failure to contain crime.

Crowds gathered outside Congress and near the Ecuadorian embassy after the vote amid speculation that Boluarte might seek asylum. Some supporters of her removal celebrated, waving Peruvian flags and playing instruments as word of Jeri’s inauguration spread.

Boluarte addressed the nation from the presidential palace shortly after her removal. “The same Congress that swore me in late 2022 has now voted for my removal, with the implications this has for the stability of democracy in our country,” she said. “At every moment, I called for unity.”

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum had summoned Boluarte to defend herself Thursday night, but she did not appear before Congress. Legislators proceeded with the impeachment process, citing sufficient votes for her removal.

Boluarte, 63, has denied all allegations of corruption and misconduct. Her approval rating had fallen to between 2% and 4% following accusations of excessive force during protests after the 2022 removal of her predecessor, President Pedro Castillo.

Her ouster continues a pattern of political instability in Peru. Three former presidents remain in prison on corruption charges.

The latest impeachment succeeded with backing from right-wing parties that once supported Boluarte, including Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force and Rafael Lopez’s Popular Renewal. Both are expected to run in the 2026 presidential election.

Boluarte’s presidency began in December 2022 after Castillo’s arrest for attempting to dissolve Congress. His removal sparked deadly demonstrations, especially in Peru’s Andean and Indigenous regions.

Jeri’s government faces immediate challenges, including restoring public security and rebuilding trust after years of political turmoil.

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