In a dramatic turn of events that has once again shaken Peru’s political foundations, Congress voted unanimously in the early hours of October 10, 2025, to remove President Dina Boluarte from office. The decision, which came after a late-night impeachment trial, marks the latest chapter in a decade-long cycle of political instability that has seen the country cycle through an astonishing eight presidents in just ten years, according to the Associated Press (AP) and the Atlantic Council.
The catalyst for Boluarte’s ouster was a surge in violent crime that culminated in a shocking shooting at a concert in Lima on October 8. Men on motorcycles opened fire with a machine gun at a performance by the beloved cumbia group Agua Marina, injuring five people. The attack, widely reported by AP and the Atlantic Council, sent shockwaves through a nation already on edge and proved to be the final straw for a president whose popularity had plummeted to historic lows.
Boluarte, who took office in December 2022 following the impeachment of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, had struggled to connect with Peru’s citizens and to address mounting insecurity. As former finance minister Alfredo E. Thorne told Americas Quarterly, "This followed a sharp increase in insecurity and a deepening of the feeling that her government had not been attending to the population’s demands." The shooting and a paralyzing urban transport strike in Lima earlier that week set the stage for Congress to act. Lawmakers requested an impeachment vote the day after the concert attack, ultimately reaching 122 votes out of 130—well above the two-thirds majority required by the Peruvian Constitution for removal on grounds of “moral incapacity.”
Boluarte did not appear before Congress to defend her presidency, despite constitutional provisions allowing her to do so. The AP notes that this was her ninth impeachment attempt, but unlike previous efforts, this one garnered support from nearly all legislative factions, including former allies such as Keiko Fujimori’s Fuerza Popular. The rapid withdrawal of political support, as analyst Eduardo Ruiz explained to Americas Quarterly, reflected a broader strategy by Peru’s political elite to distance themselves from a deeply unpopular administration ahead of the 2026 elections. "The move is a clear sign that political actors are already recalibrating their alliances as the electoral race gains momentum," Ruiz observed.
Boluarte’s presidency was marred by scandal and controversy almost from the outset. She was investigated multiple times for alleged illegal enrichment, with the so-called “Rolexgate” affair—centered on her acquisition of expensive watches and jewelry—grabbing headlines. Her approval ratings languished in the single digits, reaching as low as 2% in the latest polls before her removal, according to Americas Quarterly. Despite her background as the first female president and her origins in the poor southern city of Chalhuanca, Boluarte struggled to maintain public trust. Her government was further tainted by accusations of secret plastic surgery and a general sense of detachment from the population’s pressing concerns.
With Boluarte out, the mantle of leadership has passed to José Jerí, a 38-year-old conservative who had been serving as head of Congress. Jerí, who entered Congress in 2021 as a replacement for former President Martín Vizcarra, was sworn in as interim president on October 10. He is expected to serve out the remainder of Boluarte’s term, which ends July 28, 2026, with general elections scheduled for April 12, 2026. The Atlantic Council notes that Jerí’s first hours in office were marked by the resurfacing of old accusations against him, including investigations into alleged sexual assault and corruption—though none have resulted in convictions, and Jerí has denied any wrongdoing.
Jerí’s ascent underscores the fragility of Peru’s current political system, where coalitions of convenience and shifting alliances have made stable governance elusive. As Martin Cassinelli of the Atlantic Council explained, "Since 2016, Peru’s presidents have governed with minority support in Congress and have been subject to the will of congressional majorities." The impeachment of Boluarte, far from resolving the country’s institutional crisis, may only deepen it. Cassinelli warns that the combination of public outrage over violence and frustration with political gridlock "will provide a fertile ground for populist rhetoric that undermines the principles of Peru’s democratic political system."
The roots of Peru’s current crisis run deep. Between 2019 and 2024, reported extortion cases increased sixfold, and this year, one in three Peruvians reported knowing a victim of extortion, many of them small business owners. Homicides have doubled since 2017, with January 2025 seeing 203% more killings than the same month eight years prior. According to Americas Quarterly, extortion cases alone rose by 25% in the first half of 2025. The sense of insecurity has fueled widespread protests, strikes, and mounting pressure on politicians to act.
Yet, for all the political chaos, Peru’s economy has shown a surprising resilience. The country’s GDP grew by 3.4% in the first half of 2025, buoyed by high global commodity prices for metals like copper and gold. Economic analysts, including Thorne, forecast growth averaging 2.7% for 2025 and 2.6% for 2026. This decoupling of economic performance from political turbulence is credited to institutional safeguards such as an independent central bank, strong international reserves, and low public debt. However, as Cassinelli cautions, "Each presidential removal chips away at investor and public confidence," and persistent instability has already led to postponed investments and difficulty sustaining long-term policy agendas.
Looking ahead, the new administration faces daunting challenges. Jerí inherits a country deeply divided along political and social lines, with Generation Z activists, transport unions, and other sectors threatening more demonstrations. The Atlantic Council and Americas Quarterly both note that Jerí, seen as part of the traditional political elite, is unlikely to gain broad public support. His government will likely focus on Cabinet appointments and administrative restructuring, leaving little time to implement effective anti-crime measures before the next election cycle.
Meanwhile, the so-called "four families"—the Fujimoris, César Acuña, José Luna Gálvez, and the Cerrón family—continue to wield outsized influence in Congress. Will Freeman of the Council on Foreign Relations argues that this coalition has aggressively pursued an agenda that many Peruvians view as "pro-crime," eroding judicial independence and weakening law enforcement. Boluarte, he contends, was "always servant to and hostage of this coalition—an easy sacrifice to let off some steam." The public’s anger, Freeman suggests, is directed not just at Boluarte but at the broader political system that has enabled such dysfunction.
As Peru approaches its April 2026 elections, the stakes could not be higher. The country stands at a crossroads, with fragile stability, ongoing social unrest, and the specter of populism looming large. Whether Jerí and the current Congress can restore public trust and address the root causes of crime remains to be seen. What is clear is that Peru’s next chapter will be shaped not just by its leaders but by the resilience—and impatience—of its people.