Peru Impeaches President Boluarte Amid Escalating Political and Security Crisis

In a dramatic turn of events, Peru has impeached President Dina Boluarte, one of the world’s most unpopular leaders, and appointed Congress Speaker José Jeri as interim president, marking the seventh leadership change in nine years. With only six months remaining until the next elections, the country faces yet another political upheaval.

Boluarte was swiftly removed from office following a gun attack on cumbia musicians performing in Lima on Wednesday — widely seen as the final straw after a series of assaults on performers and business owners by extortion gangs.

Unlike the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, in December 2022, Boluarte’s removal sparked no mass protests.

Boluarte’s impeachment follows months of public anger from bus companies, merchants, and students over shakedowns by criminal gangs, who frequently target those refusing to pay protection money.

Despite Congress appointing José Jeri as interim president, public frustration with a political class seen as inept and corrupt persists.

“We’ve traded one rat for another (…) We’re in a very bad way,”
— Gaby Valdivia, 50-year-old flower merchant

“We’re very used to presidents (…) falling quickly and the lives of Peruvians remaining the same,”
— Augusto Alvarez, political scientist

Peru has been grappling with a wave of extortion and contract killings, affecting citizens from all walks of life. Prominent gangs include Los Pulpos and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, which operates across Latin America.

In March, cumbia star Paul Flores was shot dead after a concert, prompting Congress to dismiss the interior minister. With each incident, lawmakers who had supported Boluarte became increasingly critical, blaming her government for the escalating security crisis.

“Their impeachment of Boluarte was an attempt to show that the security crisis was her sole responsibility,”
— Fernando Tuesta, political scientist, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru

Lima has been wracked by protests and strikes, with youth groups from the “Generation Z” collective participating in recent weekends. At least 74 people have been injured in these demonstrations.

Interim president Jeri has vowed to “declare war” on organised crime in an effort to calm public anger, but a new wave of protests is planned for next week.

Jeri has committed to leading a transitional government until the elections scheduled for 12 April 2026, but analysts caution that Peruvians may have little patience for delays in stabilising the country.

“He could become a president of a few days,”
— Fernando Tuesta

Despite ongoing political turmoil, Peru’s economy has remained relatively stable:

The main economic vulnerability is the high level of informal employment, leaving the majority of Peruvians without social benefits or security, which exacerbates the impact of political crises.

As Peru enters yet another chapter of political instability, analysts warn that the combination of violent crime, public frustration, and fragile governance could make the interim period before the 2026 elections highly volatile.

The country now faces the challenge of balancing security reforms, political credibility, and economic stability while citizens demand tangible change.