Peru's congress impeaches President Dina Boluarte

Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, has been impeached by the country's congress, making her the latest Peruvian leader to be removed from office.

Congress overwhelmingly voted to impeach Boluarte in a session that started at 11 p.m. local Thursday.

"The Congress of the Republic has approved the removal (vacancy) of the President of the Republic, Dina Boluarte Zegarra," the Congress of Peru announced in an online statement following the vote.

Congress leader Jose Jeri was then sworn in as Peru's interim president to a smattering of applause.

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With his right hand raised, he said he swears before God and country to faithfully exercise the office of the presidency.

"I will defend the national sovereignty, the physical and moral integrity of our country, the independence of our democratic institutions, and that I will uphold and enforce our political Constitution, the laws of our country and the freedoms of our republic," he said before congress.

Jeri is now the seventh president to lead Peru in the last decade, with three of the previous six impeached, two resigning amid either protests or impeachment pressure and one completing an interim caretaker term.

Boluarte was sworn in as Peru's first female president in December 2022. She had served as vice president under Pedro Castillo, who was impeached only a day earlier after trying to dissolve congress and impose an emergency government to rule by decree.

Upon her accession to the presidency, Boluarte had vowed to lead the country until the next presidential election, currently scheduled for April 12.

Her ousting, however, comes as public trust in Peru's institutions and Boluarte's leadership has steadily eroded. Polls show she had an approval rating of around 4% in mid-2025 -- one of the lowest in the world.