Peru’s Congress removes President Dina Boluarte after serious allegations, was her two-week nose surgery absence the final straw? Here’s what she’s charged with and what happens next

In a decisive move, Peru’s Congress voted to remove President Dina Boluarte from office, citing “permanent moral incapacity.” The vote followed a series of corruption allegations, human rights abuses, and a surge in violent crime that eroded public trust. She has denied all allegations and refused to attend the vote. José Jerí, the 38-year-old president of Congress, was sworn in as interim president shortly after the vote. According to Al Jazeera, politicians summoned her to defend herself before Congress at 11.30 pm (04:30 GMT).

Boluarte has become highly unpopular, with approval ratings hovering between 2 percent and 4 percent, amid allegations that she illicitly benefited from her position.

Prime Minister Eduardo Arana defended Boluarte during a Parliament hearing focused on the country’s crime surge, but his support failed to deter lawmakers from advancing motions to remove her from office.


“Parliament's concerns are not resolved by addressing a request for impeachment, much less by approving it,” Mr. Arana told lawmakers. “We are not clinging to our positions. We are here, and we knew from the beginning that our first day here could also be our last day in office.”

Bouarte’s rise to presidency

Dina Boluarte ascended to the presidency in 2022 after the impeachment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, who attempted to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government and under whom Boluarte had served as vice president. As Peru’s first female president, Boluarte initially garnered hope for stability. However, her tenure was marred by escalating protests, human rights violations, and allegations of corruption. Notably, security forces were accused of killing over 60 protesters during a crackdown.

Additionally, Boluarte faced accusations of accepting luxury gifts, including Rolex watches, and of neglecting her duties during a nearly two-week absence for cosmetic surgery in 2023. She claimed the surgery was “essential” for her health, but the surgeon who performed it refuted that, stating it consisted entirely of cosmetic procedures.

Boluarte’s removal adds to a long history of political turmoil in Peru. Since the year 2000, at least seven Peruvian presidents have faced trials or legal scrutiny over corruption or human rights violations, while an eighth took his own life as authorities closed in.

Even traditionally conservative parties that once backed Boluarte recently turned against her, joining calls for her removal, Reuters reported, including Rafael López’s Popular Renewal and Keiko Fujimori’s Popular Force, both major political forces.

Peru has grappled with a severe security crisis. Earlier this year, a state of emergency was declared in Lima and the province of Callao following a spike in crime after the killing of a well-known musician.