Dina Boluarte, the president of Peru, was removed from office on Thursday after a late-night congressional vote in which parties across the political spectrum called for her ouster.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum approved the motion on grounds of “permanent moral incapacity,” with 122 of 130 legislators supporting her removal.
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In a televised address after the vote, Boluarte questioned what the decision meant for the stability of Peru’s fragile democracy.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most unpopular leaders—with approval ratings hovering between 2% and 4%—Boluarte’s presidency was marred by scandals, corruption probes, violent unrest, and a surge in organized crime.
Anti-government protests have intensified in recent months amid rising insecurity. Tensions escalated further on Thursday after a deadly shooting at a concert in Lima, fuelling public outrage ahead of the impeachment session.
Boluarte, who did not attend the overnight hearing, was met with cheers from demonstrators waving Peruvian flags outside Congress as her ousting was declared.
“Throughout my tenure, I called for unity,” she said after her removal. “I thought not of myself, but of the 34 million Peruvians who deserve better.”
Congress leader Jose Jeri was sworn in as interim president shortly after the vote. Peru, which currently has no vice-president, is due to hold elections in April.
Boluarte’s turbulent time in office followed the dramatic downfall of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, who was impeached and imprisoned in December 2022 after attempting to dissolve Congress. She became Peru’s first female head of state, and its sixth president since 2018.
Her tenure was plagued by controversy. She faced a corruption scandal dubbed “Rolexgate” over allegations she accepted luxury watches as bribes, and another probe questioned whether she abandoned her post during a cosmetic nose surgery without naming a caretaker. She denied all wrongdoing.
In July, her decision to double her presidential salary—making it nearly 35 times the minimum wage—sparked widespread public outrage, despite government claims it was among the lowest in South America.
Boluarte also faced serious accusations of human rights abuses. In January 2023, she and senior ministers were investigated for “genocide, homicide, and serious injuries” after a brutal crackdown on Castillo supporters left more than 50 people dead.
Her presidency was marked by relentless unrest, with over 500 protests recorded in her first three months alone.
“The only path forward was Boluarte’s removal,” Congresswoman Susel Paredes wrote on X after the vote.
Boluarte’s downfall underscores Peru’s political instability—three former presidents are currently behind bars, and the Andean nation has now cycled through six leaders in just seven years.
