Peru President Ousted Over Secret Meetings

Peru’s Congress has removed interim President José Jerí from office barely four months after he assumed power, following allegations that he concealed a series of private meetings with a Chinese businessman outside the official government schedule. The revelations have triggered a fierce political row and deepened concerns over transparency at the highest levels of the state.

According to congressional leaders, Jerí failed to disclose multiple meetings with Zhihua Yang, a prominent Chinese entrepreneur with commercial interests in Peru. Under Peruvian law, the president is required to register all official engagements and contacts in a public record to ensure accountability. Lawmakers argued that the omission constituted a breach of constitutional duty and undermined public trust.

Jerí has acknowledged meeting Yang but insists there was no impropriety. He has apologised for what he described as a “procedural oversight”, while firmly rejecting accusations of corruption or undue influence. In a televised statement, he claimed political opponents had exaggerated the matter to damage his reputation and destabilise his administration.

The controversy has been dubbed “Chifa-gate” by local media — a reference to the popular Peruvian term “chifa”, used to describe Chinese-Peruvian restaurants. Security camera footage reportedly shows Jerí entering Yang’s restaurant late at night wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Another Chinese national, said to be under house arrest on suspicion of involvement in an illegal timber trafficking network, was allegedly present at one of the meetings. Although no direct evidence has linked Jerí to criminal conduct, the optics proved politically damaging.

This marks the third consecutive presidential removal in Peru in recent years. In October 2025, former president Dina Boluarte was impeached by Congress, after which Jerí, then serving as head of Congress, was sworn in as interim leader. Since 2016, Peru has experienced persistent political turbulence, with frequent changes in leadership reflecting deep divisions between the executive and legislative branches.

Below is a summary of Peru’s recent presidential instability:

Jerí was not directly elected by popular vote. As President of Congress, he assumed the presidency under constitutional succession rules following Boluarte’s impeachment. His removal now places the responsibility on Congress to appoint another interim president, who will serve until a newly elected head of state takes office after the forthcoming April elections.

Analysts warn that repeated leadership changes risk eroding investor confidence and weakening democratic institutions. Peru’s economy, heavily reliant on mining exports and foreign investment — including significant Chinese involvement — depends on political stability. The episode has reignited debate over executive transparency, lobbying regulation, and the oversight of foreign business interests.

With elections looming, the nation once again finds itself navigating uncertainty, as citizens weigh the costs of chronic political upheaval against demands for stricter accountability in public office.