Peru’s Congress has impeached interim president Jose Jeri, deepening the country’s long-running political turbulence and marking the removal of its seventh head of state in a decade.
Lawmakers voted Tuesday to oust the 39-year-old leader over allegations of irregular government appointments and suspected graft linked to a Chinese businessman.
Jeri, who assumed office in October after the impeachment of his predecessor Dina Boluarte, had been serving out the remainder of her term, set to expire in July following general elections scheduled for April 12. Under the constitution, he was barred from contesting the vote.
The impeachment follows a decision by prosecutors last week to open an investigation into “whether the head of state exercised undue influence” in public sector appointments.
Jeri has denied any wrongdoing.
The controversy intensified after investigative television programme Cuarto Poder reported that five women were improperly awarded jobs in the president’s office and the environment ministry after meetings with Jeri. Prosecutors later said the number of women under scrutiny was nine.
In addition, Jeri is being investigated for alleged “illegal sponsorship of interests” stemming from a secret meeting with a Chinese businessman said to have commercial ties to the government.
His removal adds to Peru’s record of rapid presidential turnover, underscoring persistent governance instability in the Andean nation.
Jeri’s predecessor, Boluarte, was also impeached amid widespread protests over corruption allegations and escalating violence linked to organised crime.
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