Dina Boluarte ousted by unanimous vote in Peru’s congress
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Peru’s Congress unanimously ousts President Dina Boluarte amid political crisis, triggering a transition period ahead of 2026 general elections.
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Peru President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra addresses the 80th session of the UNGA on September 23, 2025. (AP)
Dina Boluarte was officially removed from the presidency of Peru on Friday following a unanimous vote in Congress, which approved a motion declaring the presidency vacant amid an intensifying political crisis under her administration.
The country now enters a transitional phase as it prepares for general elections scheduled for April 2026.
Peru’s Congress voted unanimously late Friday to oust President Dina Boluarte, following hours of mounting political pressure and cross-party calls for her removal. The dramatic late-night session drew crowds of mostly young demonstrators outside the Congress building, many waving Peruvian flags as lawmakers voted to end the tenure of one of the world’s most unpopular leaders.
Earlier in the evening, legislators from across the political spectrum had voted to impeach Boluarte on grounds of “moral incapacity,” summoning her to appear before Congress that same night. She failed to attend, and lawmakers moved swiftly to finalize her impeachment in her absence. Boluarte has denied any wrongdoing.
With no vice president to assume power, the line of succession remains uncertain. Her ouster deepens Peru’s political instability, the country has seen six presidents since 2018, three of whom are currently imprisoned.
Peru Congress approves motion to vacate presidency
Following the vote, Congress President José Jerí announced the immediate adjournment of the session and the swift assumption of presidential responsibilities by the head of Congress.
“The session is adjourned, and the assumption of the office of President of the Republic by the President of Congress is called immediately,” Jerí stated after the vote.
However, if a motion to censure the congressional board of directors is passed, another interim president may be appointed during the transition.
Dina Boluarte fails to appear before lawmakers
Boluarte, accompanied by her legal counsel, did not attend the congressional session scheduled for 11:30 p.m. local time, where she had the opportunity to respond to five previously approved discussions on motions to vacate the presidency.
“Since President Dina Boluarte Zegarra has been summoned and has not appeared before the Congress of the Republic, the vacancy procedure will continue,” Jerí announced.
Political transition begins ahead of 2026 general elections
The debate leading to Boluarte’s removal lasted approximately two hours, with time distributed proportionally among parliamentary blocs. Non-affiliated members were each allotted one minute to speak without interruptions or extensions.
With the Peru presidential vacancy confirmed, the country begins a new phase of political transition, while observers focus on how this development will shape the road to the 2026 general elections.
Jose Jeri becomes Peru’s interim President after Boluarte ouster
Jose Enrique Jeri Oré, former President of Peru’s Congress, has assumed the role of interim President of the Republic following the unanimous removal of Dina Boluarte by Parliament. His appointment, in accordance with Article 115 of the Political Constitution, extends until July 2026, as Peru prepares for a new round of elections.
Jeri is the seventh president to take office in the past decade, a testament to the enduring political crisis in Peru.
Following the Congressional vote, Jeri took the oath of office as interim president. The move came hours after Boluarte failed to appear before Congress to respond to five discussions related to her removal, a situation fueled by ongoing protests and institutional instability.
As part of the session, Parliament also addressed a motion to censure its own Board of Directors. However, the motion failed to gain sufficient support, with 61 votes against, 36 in favor, and 17 abstentions.
“#PlenoDelCongreso no alcanzó lo votos requeridos para admitir a debate la moción de censura contra los integrantes de la Mesa Directiva del Congreso,” the official congressional account posted on X.
Jeri’s political rise and controversial past
Jeri, a member of the right-wing Somos Peru party since 2013, previously ran in multiple municipal elections without success. He entered Congress in 2021 as a substitute for former President Martín Vizcarra, who was disqualified despite receiving over 200,000 votes. Jeri had only obtained around 11,600 votes, but this circumstance enabled his entry into Parliament.
His rise to the presidency of Congress was made possible by an unlikely coalition involving Fuerza Popular, APP, Acción Popular, Avanza País, Perú Libre, and Somos Peru.
However, his record is not without controversy. In January 2025, he faced accusations of sexual assault following a New Year’s Eve event in Canta. Although the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office closed the investigation in August 2025, the case drew national attention and condemnation from lawmakers.
