Peru Congress ousts interim leader Jose Jeri amid corruption allegations
Peru’s Congress on Tuesday voted to impeach interim president Jose Jeri, marking the country’s seventh head of state in a decade and the latest to fall over graft-related claims.
Jeri, 39, had been in office since October after taking over from former president Dina Boluarte, who was also impeached following nationwide protests over corruption and escalating violence linked to organised crime.
Lawmakers accused Jeri of irregularly facilitating the hiring of several women into positions within the presidency and the environment ministry after private meetings with him. The allegations were first reported by investigative television programme Cuarto Poder, which claimed five women benefited from the appointments, while prosecutors later said the number was nine.
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Prosecutors last week launched a formal probe to determine whether the interim president exercised undue influence in government appointments. Jeri has denied any wrongdoing.
He is also under investigation for alleged “illegal sponsorship of interests” following a reported secret meeting with a Chinese businessman said to have commercial ties with the government.
Jeri, who previously served as head of Peru’s unicameral parliament, was appointed to complete Boluarte’s term, which ends in July. Under the constitution, he is barred from contesting the presidential election scheduled for April 12.
The impeachment comes just weeks before the polls, which have attracted a record 30-plus candidates. Observers have suggested political manoeuvring may have played a role in the move against Jeri. Among his most vocal critics has been Rafael Lopez Aliaga of the Popular Renewal party, who currently leads in opinion surveys.
READ ALSO: School teacher, Pedro Castillo emerges president-elect of Peru
Congress is expected to elect a new parliamentary leader on Wednesday to replace the caretaker speaker. The newly elected parliament president will automatically assume the role of interim head of state until July.
Political analyst Augusto Alvarez warned ahead of the vote that finding a replacement with broad legitimacy would be challenging, citing concerns over mediocrity and widespread corruption within the legislature.
Peru has cycled through seven presidents since 2016, with several impeached, investigated or convicted. The country is also battling a surge in violent extortion, particularly targeting transport operators. Reported extortion cases have skyrocketed from 2,396 two years ago to more than 25,000 in 2025, reflecting deepening insecurity across the nation.
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