Peru's President Boluarte Ousted Amid Crime Wave; José Jerí Becomes Seventh President in a Decade
Peru's Congress impeached President Dina Boluarte due to "permanent moral incapacity" and a severe crime wave. José Jerí, a young lawyer, was sworn in as the nation's seventh president in less than a decade, aiming for reconciliation and crime reduction.
Overview
- Peru's Congress overwhelmingly voted to impeach President Dina Boluarte for "permanent moral incapacity," leading to her removal from office.
- The impeachment was largely driven by a severe crime wave, including a surge in killings and a 28% increase in extortion complaints across the nation.
- José Jerí, a young lawyer with limited political experience, was sworn in as Peru's new president, becoming the country's seventh leader in less than a decade.
- Boluarte's ousting continues a pattern of frequent leadership changes in Peru, as she assumed the presidency in December 2022 after her predecessor's impeachment.
- President Jerí has outlined his immediate priorities to promote national reconciliation and urgently address the escalating crime situation throughout Peru.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing President Boluarte's "deeply unpopular" status and her administration's "inability to stem crime" as the primary drivers for her impeachment. They consistently use evaluative language and highlight her scandals and controversial statements, collectively portraying her removal as a consequence of her failures and public disdain.
"Peruvians woke up to their seventh president in less than a decade Friday, as 38-year-old José Jerí took the reins of the shaken nation after Congress ousted widely loathed President Dina Boluarte in a lightening overnight impeachment."
ABC News"Peruvians woke up to their seventh president in less than a decade Friday, as 38-year-old José Jerí took the reins of the shaken nation after Congress ousted widely loathed President Dina Boluarte in a lightning overnight impeachment."
Associated Press"Peruvian lawmakers impeached President Dina Boluarte and removed her from power, ending an unpopular presidency during which crime rates soared and the economy sputtered."
Semafor"Boluarte's tenure has been plagued by frequent protests, scandals and investigations, as well as a surge in gang violence."
BBC News"Peru’s Congress votes to remove President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country."
ABC News"Plagued by scandals, her administration's inability to address Peru's incessant crime proved to be her undoing."
CBS News"Plagued by scandals, her administration's inability to address Peru's incessant crime proved to be her undoing."
NPR"A shooting at a concert in Peru’s capital may prove to be the undoing of Dina Boluarte’s presidency as it laid bare the steep rise in crime that her country has experienced in recent years."
ABC News"Plagued by scandals, her administration’s inability to address Peru’s incessant crime proved to be her undoing."
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FAQ
Reported extortions increased sixfold between 2019 and 2024, and by 2025, one in every three Peruvians knew someone who had been extorted. Homicides have nearly doubled since 2019, reaching about 2,000 in 2025 in a country of 34 million. In Lima, extortion and contract killings have become routine, and more than 75% of Peruvians now report being afraid to leave home due to crime.
The Boluarte administration declared multiple states of emergency, suspending basic rights in key areas like Lima and deploying military personnel to support police. However, security experts and residents reported that these measures were largely ineffective, with little visible improvement in public safety. Critics argue that the government focused on crackdowns while ignoring underlying issues like institutional decay and corruption.
President José Jerí has pledged to prioritize national reconciliation and urgently address the escalating crime situation. However, specific policy details have not yet been released. Given the context, his administration will likely need to balance immediate security measures with longer-term institutional reforms to tackle corruption and restore public trust.
Daily life has been significantly disrupted: extortion and violent crime are now commonplace, with many residents afraid to use public transport or go to work. In Lima, areas like Miraflores have seen notable spikes in crime, and residents report feeling abandoned by the government, with incidents of robbery and murder occurring even in crowded, everyday settings.
Frequent leadership changes reflect profound political instability and institutional weakness in Peru. Each turnover disrupts policy continuity, undermines public trust, and complicates efforts to address systemic issues like crime and corruption. This instability creates a cycle where short-term measures are emphasized over sustainable reform, perpetuating the country’s governance challenges.
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