Peru’s Political Earthquake: Boluarte’s Impeachment Deepens Crisis as José Jerí Becomes Seventh President in a Decade
Executive Summary
Peru’s Congress has impeached President Dina Boluarte on grounds of “moral incapacity,” citing her government’s failure to address the country’s surging violent crime rates. José Jerí, the 38-year-old head of Congress, has been sworn in as interim president, marking Peru’s seventh leadership change in under ten years. While Peru’s economic fundamentals remain stable, the impeachment highlights chronic political dysfunction, the erosion of public trust, and the rising potential for populist movements to capitalize on widespread disillusionment ahead of the 2026 election.
Key Judgments
1. Boluarte’s impeachment underscores Peru’s deepening institutional fragility and political volatility.
Evidence: Congress removed Boluarte with 122 votes out of 130, citing her failure to contain violent crime following a mass shooting in Lima. This marks the ninth impeachment attempt during her tenure and the latest in a pattern of congressional dominance over the presidency since 2016, during which eight presidents have cycled through office.
2. José Jerí’s rise to power reflects both the fragility of Peru’s political class and the opportunism of party coalitions.
Evidence: Jerí was elevated by the same coalition that supported Boluarte and faces unresolved allegations of sexual assault and corruption. His appointment six months before national elections suggests that political elites are prioritizing electoral positioning over governance stability.
3. Continued political instability threatens long-term investor confidence despite Peru’s current economic resilience.
Evidence: While Peru’s economy has endured repeated leadership changes thanks to strong reserves, an independent central bank, and a robust mining sector, repeated impeachments have already delayed key investments and eroded public and business confidence in the country’s governance.
Analysis
The impeachment of Dina Boluarte represents not only the fall of an unpopular leader but also the perpetuation of a systemic cycle of instability that has characterized Peruvian politics for nearly a decade. Boluarte, who came to power in 2022 after the removal of Pedro Castillo, governed without a strong party base and relied on fragile coalitions that dissolved once she became a political liability. Her removal, triggered by a surge in violent crime and capped by a deadly shooting in Lima, reflects both public outrage and elite opportunism.
José Jerí’s ascension offers little promise of stability. His lack of political experience and allegations of misconduct, combined with his ties to the same coalition that impeached Boluarte, cast doubt on his ability to unify the country or enact meaningful reforms. While Jerí has pledged to restore “reconciliation” and ensure neutrality in the upcoming April 2026 election, his administration is likely to be hampered by the same political fragmentation that has undermined his predecessors.
The broader crisis is institutional. Since the early 2000s, Peru’s constitutional framework has allowed Congress to exercise disproportionate power over the executive branch through broad interpretations of “moral incapacity.” This imbalance has created an environment in which short-term political calculations consistently outweigh governance continuity, making it nearly impossible for any administration to pursue long-term strategies on security, infrastructure, or social policy.
Despite the political turmoil, Peru’s economy remains relatively stable, supported by structural strengths such as an independent central bank, low debt, and strong commodity exports, particularly in copper and gold. However, each episode of political upheaval weakens the country’s institutional credibility and dampens investor confidence. If political paralysis persists into the 2026 election cycle, Peru risks undermining the very economic foundations that have thus far insulated it from collapse.
Public frustration with both the executive and Congress—whose approval ratings sit at 3% and 2%, respectively—creates fertile ground for populist candidates who may challenge democratic norms under the guise of restoring order. As crime continues to surge and the electorate loses faith in traditional political elites, Peru’s next election may mark not stabilization, but further polarization.
