Peruvian Congress Removes President José Jerí; José María Balcázar Elected Successor Amid Political Instability

Peru's Congress has voted to remove President José Jerí from office, marking the country's eighth change of leadership in approximately a decade.

Peru's Congress Removes President Jerí Amid China Meeting Allegations

The decision, made on a Tuesday, followed accusations regarding unregistered meetings with Chinese business interests. Legislator José María Balcázar was subsequently elected by Congress on Wednesday to serve as the interim president until general elections scheduled for April 12.

President Jerí's Removal

President José Jerí was removed from office by a vote in Congress, with 75 members voting in favor, 24 against, and 3 abstentions. He had served as interim president for four months, having assumed the role in October after his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was impeached. Boluarte, in turn, had replaced Pedro Castillo following his impeachment in December 2022.

The vote to remove Jerí followed debates on multiple allegations, including potential illegal sponsorship and influence peddling. The Attorney General's Office and Public Prosecutor's Office have initiated preliminary investigations into these claims.

Allegations of Unregistered Meetings

Central to the allegations were Jerí's undisclosed meetings with Chinese businesspeople. Specific incidents cited include:

• A meeting on December 26 at a Chinese restaurant, where images showed Jerí entering while wearing a hood.
• A meeting on January 6 at a Chinese goods store with businessman Zhihua Yang, who holds a state-granted concession. Jerí was observed arriving wearing sunglasses.
• Media reports also showed Jerí visiting another of Yang's businesses. Yang had previously received a concession for a hydroelectric plant during the Boluarte administration, which raised transparency questions.
• Jiwu Xiaodong, who was reportedly under house arrest for illegal activities, was also reported to have attended meetings with Yang and Jerí.

Further scrutiny during congressional debates included allegations of late-night meetings with women who later received government contracts and other irregular interactions. Jerí had faced seven motions of censure against his presidency.

Jerí's Response

President Jerí denied any misconduct, describing the meetings as "circumstantial" and asserting that no favors or support were requested. He stated the meetings were for purposes such as discussing a Peruvian-Chinese friendship day or coordinating a Peruvian-Chinese festival, or were simple shopping trips. He later acknowledged the meetings and apologized for the manner in which some were conducted, specifically his hooded entry into the restaurant. The situation has been referred to by some as "Chifa-gate."

Broader Political Instability Plagues Peru

Jerí's removal underscores a period of significant political instability in Peru, characterized by frequent changes in presidential leadership. This marks the eighth presidential transition in approximately a decade. The country's political landscape is often affected by a lack of legislative majorities and the widespread use of a constitutional clause concerning "permanent moral incapacity" to remove sitting presidents, a clause critics describe as vague.

Since 2021, the current Congress has impeached three heads of state: Pedro Castillo, Dina Boluarte, and José Jerí.

A history of Peruvian presidential instability includes:

• Alberto Fujimori (ousted 2000): Convicted on charges including corruption and human rights violations.
• Alejandro Toledo: Sentenced to over 20 years for receiving bribes from Odebrecht.
• Alan Garcia: Died by suicide in 2019 during an investigation linked to Odebrecht.
• Ollanta Humala and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski: Involved in the Odebrecht scandal.
• Martin Vizcarra: Ousted for "moral incapacity" over bribery allegations during his governorship, later sentenced to 14 years for bribery.
• Pedro Castillo: Arrested for rebellion and dismissed after attempting to dissolve Congress, later sentenced to 11 years for rebellion and conspiracy following a self-coup attempt in 2022.
• Dina Boluarte: Impeached for "permanent moral incapacity" following various scandals.

Individuals accused or convicted have rejected the allegations. Prosecutors have indicated that investigations into Jerí on corruption charges will continue.

The United States Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs last week expressed concern regarding reports of a potential lack of oversight over Peru's Chancay port, which it stated was managed by "predatory" Chinese owners. The Bureau advised other nations to consider this a "cautionary tale" about the cost of "cheap Chinese money" to sovereignty.

José María Balcázar Elected Interim President

On Wednesday, Congress elected legislator José María Balcázar as the new interim president. Balcázar, an 83-year-old former judge representing the leftist Perú Libre party, received a majority vote from the 130-member legislature and was sworn in shortly after by Fernando Rospigliosi, the president of Congress.

Balcázar's term is expected to last five months, concluding with the upcoming general elections. He has stated commitments to ensuring transparent elections, maintaining existing macroeconomic and monetary policies, and enhancing efforts against organized crime, including murders and extortion.

Upcoming General Elections

Peruvians are scheduled to participate in a general election on April 12, with at least 36 candidates registered. If no presidential candidate obtains over 50% of the vote, a runoff election will be held in June.