Peru’s Congress ousts Boluarte amid protests and power vacuum

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
Today 08:54

With no vice president to assume power, the line of succession remains uncertain.

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Opponents of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte protest outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in Peru, Thursday, October 9, 2025. (AP)

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.

Outside the Ecuadorian embassy, celebratory crowds gathered amid speculation that Boluarte might seek asylum in the neighboring country.

Wider context

The impeachment followed a series of rapid developments Thursday night, when four separate motions to remove the president each secured between 108 and 115 votes, more than double the 52 required to open a debate. Congress later voted to summon Boluarte at 11:30 p.m. local time (0430 GMT), but when she did not appear, lawmakers proceeded with the vote shortly after midnight.

The overwhelming support for her removal marked a sharp reversal after several previous impeachment attempts failed to reach debate. This time, right-wing parties that had long backed Boluarte, including Rafael López Aliaga’s Popular Renewal and Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force, joined the effort. Both politicians are widely expected to run in the April 2026 presidential election.

“We cannot leave for tomorrow what we can do today,” Congressman Victor Cutipa told colleagues during the heated session. “We must make a decision now.”

Peru’s Congress revives impeachment bid against Boluarte

Earlier, Peruvian lawmakers filed a new motion to impeach Boluarte. The bid to oust Boluarte was submitted by a coalition of opposition legislators on Thursday, accusing her of “permanent moral incapacity.”

Boluarte assumed office in December 2022, following the ouster and arrest of then-President Pedro Castillo, under whom she served as vice president, after he attempted to dissolve Congress.

Her ascent to power sparked months of violent protests, particularly in rural Andean and Indigenous regions, where rights groups accused her administration of using excessive force to suppress dissent.

The ousted president faced multiple corruption allegations, including claims of illicit enrichment and failure to declare luxury assets such as Rolex watches. In July, she drew further public criticism after announcing a decision to double her own salary.

Peru has experienced extreme political instability in recent years, cycling through six presidents since 2018. Four former heads of state are currently imprisoned, reflecting what analysts often describe as a chronic crisis of governance in the South American country.