Peru
Olayiwola Mercy
Peru’s Congress has voted to impeach interim President Jose Jeri, just four months into his term, over allegations of corruption and influence peddling. Jeri, 39, was accused of irregularly hiring several women in his government and having secret meetings with a Chinese businessman, Zhihua Yang, who has commercial ties with the government.
The impeachment marks the seventh time a president has been ousted in Peru since 2016, highlighting the country’s ongoing political instability. Jeri’s predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was also impeached amid protests against corruption and violence linked to organized crime.
Prosecutors had opened an investigation into Jeri’s alleged “undue influence” in government appointments, and he was facing seven censure motions related to unregistered meetings with Chinese businessmen and other ethics questions.
Jeri has protested his innocence, claiming the meetings were “circumstantial” and denying any wrongdoing. However, the Congress voted to remove him from office, with 75 members backing the measure, 24 voting against, and 3 abstaining.
The impeachment has sparked concerns about Peru’s stability ahead of the April 12 general election, with over 30 candidates vying for the presidency. The new interim president will be voted on by Congress on Wednesday.
Jeri’s removal is part of a larger pattern of presidential instability in Peru, with several former presidents facing corruption allegations and investigations. The country’s next president will face significant challenges in addressing corruption and restoring stability.
The impeachment has also raised questions about Peru’s relations with China, given the allegations of influence peddling involving Chinese businessmen. The US has expressed concerns about China’s growing influence in Peru.
