Peru’s Congress ousts President Boluarte, new leader promptly sworn in
Congress leader Jose Jeri sworn in as the new president after lawmakers voted unanimously to remove Dina Boluarte from power
Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to remove deeply unpopular President Dina Boluarte from office as a crime wave gripped the South American nation and quickly replaced her with 38-year-old lawyer Jose Jeri, the legislative body’s leader.
Lawmakers had set up a debate and impeachment trial late Thursday in the 130-member unicameral Congress after voting to accept four requests for a vote to remove Boluarte from office over what they said was her government’s inability to stem crime.
They requested that Boluarte come before them shortly before midnight to defend herself, but when she did not appear, they immediately voted to oust her. In short order, 124 lawmakers voted just past midnight to impeach Boluarte. There were no votes against the effort.
The shocking turn of events came just hours after a shooting at a concert in the capital inflamed anger over crime roiling the country.
Unlike eight previous attempts to remove Boluarte, almost all legislative factions expressed support for the latest requests.