In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves throughout Peru and drawn international attention, the country’s Congress voted in the early hours of October 10, 2025, to remove President Dina Boluarte from office. The move comes as Peru grapples with a relentless wave of violent crime, political turmoil, and deep public dissatisfaction with its leaders. The impeachment, which lawmakers justified on grounds of "permanent moral incapacity," marks the latest chapter in the South American nation’s ongoing struggle with instability and unrest.
The late-night session in Lima was tense, dramatic, and historic. Just hours after a shooting at a packed concert in the capital left five people injured and further inflamed public anger over rising violence, Congress convened to debate Boluarte’s fate. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum—many of whom had supported the president in the past—rallied behind the move to oust her, citing her government’s inability to stem a surge in homicides, extortion, and gang activity. The vote was overwhelming: 124 out of 130 lawmakers supported impeachment, with no votes against, according to South China Morning Post and NPR.
Boluarte, who had survived eight previous impeachment attempts, did not appear before Congress to defend herself despite being summoned shortly before midnight. Her absence only seemed to solidify the resolve of lawmakers. The mood outside the Congress building was electric; crowds of protesters, many waving Peruvian flags, erupted in cheers as news of the vote broke. For many, it was a moment of catharsis after months—if not years—of mounting frustration.
Jose Jeri, the 38-year-old leader of Congress, was swiftly sworn in as interim president. In his first remarks, Jeri pledged to defend Peru’s sovereignty and ensure a peaceful handover of power to the winner of the elections scheduled for April 2026. He inherits a country deeply divided and beset by challenges, not least a crime crisis that has reached alarming new heights.
Official statistics paint a grim picture. Between January and mid-August 2025, 6,041 people were killed in Peru—the highest number recorded for that period since 2017. Extortion complaints soared to 15,989 between January and July, a staggering 28% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to France 24 and NPR. The recent shooting at a concert by the popular cumbia group Agua Marina became a flashpoint, symbolizing the government’s struggle to protect its citizens.
Boluarte’s attempts to address the crime wave fell flat with both lawmakers and the public. In a military ceremony just days before her impeachment, she partially blamed the crisis on illegal immigration, stating, “This crime has been brewing for decades and has been strengthened by illegal immigration, which past administrations haven’t defeated. Instead, they’ve opened the doors of our borders and allowed criminals to enter everywhere... without any restrictions.” Her comments, reported by AP and NPR, did little to stem the tide of criticism.
The president’s popularity had plummeted to record lows, with approval ratings languishing between 2% and 4%, according to BBC. Her administration was dogged by scandals and investigations, including a high-profile corruption probe dubbed "Rolexgate," which centered on allegations that she accepted luxury watches as bribes. Another inquiry examined whether she had abandoned her post during a medical absence, failing to appoint a caretaker president. Despite denying any wrongdoing, Boluarte’s credibility never recovered.
Public anger was further stoked in July when Boluarte doubled her salary to nearly 35 times the monthly minimum wage, a move her economy minister defended by noting her pay had been among the lowest for heads of state in South America. The justification failed to sway critics, and the decision was widely derided as tone-deaf amid widespread poverty and economic anxiety.
Boluarte’s presidency, which began in December 2022 after the impeachment of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, was marked by persistent unrest. In the first three months of her administration alone, more than 500 protests erupted across the country, many demanding her resignation and fresh elections. The government’s crackdown on demonstrations was brutal: more than 50 Castillo supporters died during clashes with security forces, prompting an investigation into Boluarte and key ministers for “genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries,” as reported by BBC.
Prime Minister Eduardo Arana made a last-ditch effort to defend Boluarte during a crime-focused hearing before Parliament on October 9, but his words fell on deaf ears. “Parliament’s concerns are not resolved by addressing a request for impeachment, much less by approving it,” Arana told lawmakers, according to France 24. “We are not clinging to our positions. We are here, and we knew from the beginning that our first day here could also be our last day in office.”
As the vote concluded and Jose Jeri took the oath of office, Peruvians were left to grapple with the implications of yet another abrupt change in leadership. Boluarte, the country’s first female president and its sixth leader in under a decade, had herself ascended to power after Castillo’s failed attempt to dissolve Congress and avoid impeachment. With no vice-president in place, the constitution dictated that the president of Congress be next in line—a process that unfolded with remarkable speed.
In her final televised address, Boluarte struck a somber tone, questioning what her removal would mean for Peru’s fragile democracy. “At all times I have called for unity,” she told the nation. “In this context, I had not thought of myself but of the more than 34 million Peruvians who deserve better.”
For lawmakers like Congresswoman Susel Paredes, however, the path forward was clear. “The only way of moving forward is Dina Boluarte’s impeachment,” she posted on social media just before the decisive vote.
Peru now faces a period of uncertainty as it looks ahead to elections next April. The challenges are daunting: restoring public trust, reining in crime, and stabilizing a political system that has seen three former presidents behind bars and a revolving door of leaders. Whether Jose Jeri can unite the country and guide it through these turbulent times remains to be seen. But for now, the people of Peru are watching closely, hoping that a new chapter can bring the security and stability they so urgently need.