Peru impeaches its third President in a row amid corruption probe

Peru’s Congress has voted to remove interim President José Jerí from office just four months after he assumed power, citing his failure to disclose meetings with Chinese business figures.

The controversy erupted last month when footage surfaced showing Jerí holding several unscheduled meetings with businessman Zhihua Yang, who was under official investigation at the time. Although Jerí apologised for the encounters, he denied any misconduct and claimed he was the target of a politically motivated smear campaign.

His ousting makes him the third president in a row to be impeached. Jerí had taken office after the removal of former president Dina Boluarte in October last year.

Jerí became Peru’s seventh head of state since 2016, reflecting the country’s ongoing political turbulence, where leaders have repeatedly exited office under contentious circumstances. Congress is expected to elect a new interim president on Wednesday.

Lawmakers voted 75 to 24 in favour of his impeachment following a string of controversies widely referred to as “Chifa-gate,” a nickname derived from the local term for Chinese restaurants.

Security footage of Jerí’s meetings with Yang, a businessman with multiple ventures who had secured a government concession for an energy project, was first reported by local media. In one video, Jerí was seen wearing a hoodie during a late-night visit to one of Yang’s restaurants.

Another Chinese national, who was under house arrest over alleged links to an illegal timber network, was also reportedly present at one of the gatherings.

Under Peruvian law, presidents are required to formally record all official engagements. However, Jerí did not document these meetings.

Ruth Luque, one of the lawmakers who supported the impeachment motion, said she was pushing for leadership that prioritises public interest and national security.

“We want to put an end to this agony and deliver the transition citizens are hoping for,” she said, adding that Peruvians did not want a transition marred by concealed interests, influence-peddling, and secretive dealings.

Calls for Jerí to step down had intensified amid a corruption probe launched by the attorney general, while his public approval ratings continued to decline.

His removal adds to Peru’s political instability ahead of a general election scheduled for April, when a newly elected president is expected to take office.