President Boluarte of Peru impeached
Peru’s Congress has made a significant move by voting to remove President Dina Boluarte from her position, just hours after a late-night session was convened to discuss her impeachment.
A striking majority of lawmakers from various political backgrounds supported her ousting, citing “permanent moral incapacity” as the reason.
In a televised address following the vote, Boluarte raised concerns about what this decision could mean for the stability of democracy in Peru.
Known as one of the least popular leaders globally, with an approval rating hovering between 2-4%, Boluarte’s time in office has been marred by ongoing protests, scandals, and investigations, not to mention a troubling rise in gang violence.
In recent months, anti-government protests have intensified, fueled by a spike in crime. Tensions flared again earlier on Thursday after a shooting incident at a concert in the capital, Lima.
Ultimately, 122 out of 130 lawmakers voted in favor of Boluarte’s removal early Friday morning, following strong support for four impeachment motions.
Congress leader Jose Jeri has now been sworn in as the interim president, and it’s worth noting that Peru currently has no vice-president.
Boluarte skipped the overnight hearing in Congress, and outside the building, a group of protesters waving Peruvian flags erupted in cheers as soon as the vote was announced.
“At all times I have called for unity,” she told Peruvians after being removed, adding: “In this context, I had not thought of myself but of the more than 34 million Peruvians who deserve better.
Protests have marked the less than three years of the 63-year-old leader’s presidency, which came after the impeachment and imprisonment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.
Her time in office has been clouded by multiple investigations, including a corruption scandal known as “Rolexgate,” where she faced allegations of accepting Rolex watches as bribes.
Another investigation looked into whether she neglected her duties by not appointing a caretaker president during her absence for nose surgery. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
In July, her controversial decision to raise her salary to nearly 35 times the monthly minimum wage in Peru drew widespread criticism. At that time, her economy minister pointed out that her salary had been the second lowest among 12 South American countries.
The successful impeachment vote on Thursday night marks the latest effort to oust Boluarte from her position ahead of the elections scheduled for next April.
“The only way of moving forward is Dina Boluarte’s impeachment,” Congresswoman Susel Paredes said in a post on X on Thursday.
Among the lawmakers who voted to oust Boluarte were factions that had once stood by her side, including conservative parties that had previously shown their support.
Boluarte stepped into the spotlight in December 2022, following the impeachment of former President Castillo, who had tried to dissolve Congress in a bid to avoid being removed from office. At that time, she was serving as vice president.
As Peru’s first female president, Boluarte became the sixth leader of the Andean nation since 2018, with three former leaders currently behind bars.
Just weeks after taking office in January 2023, an investigation was initiated into Boluarte and several of her top ministers, facing serious charges of “genocide, qualified homicide, and serious injuries.”
The situation escalated after over 50 supporters of Castillo lost their lives during a government crackdown on protests demanding her resignation and new elections. In just the first three months of her presidency, there were more than 500 protests against her leadership.
President Boluarte of Peru impeached
