Peru’s Congress Removes Interim President José Jerí, after 130 Days in Office

On 17/02/2026, the Congress of Peru voted to censure and remove interim President José Jerí after just 130 days in office, triggering an automatic transition of power the following day and underscoring the country’s ongoing political instability. The Censure Vote and Legal Mechanism: The motion of censure passed with 75 votes in favor, 24 against, and 3 abstentions in the 130-member unicameral legislature, the Congress of the Republic of Peru. Unlike a presidential impeachment for “permanent moral incapacity,” which requires a supermajority of 87 votes, the removal was structured as a censure motion against Jerí in his capacity as President of Congress. Because he had assumed the presidency of the Republic solely by virtue of leading Congress, his loss of that post automatically ended his tenure as interim head of state. Only his own party, Somos Perú (We Are Peru), and Fuerza Popular (Popular Force), led by Keiko Fujimori, voted against the censure. The remaining parties supported or abstained, allowing the motion to pass with a simple majority. Jerí’s removal marked the ninth change in Peru’s presidency since 2016, continuing a cycle of short-lived administrations and congressional confrontations. The “Chifagate” Scandal and Investigations: The principal catalyst for the vote was a corruption controversy dubbed “Chifagate” by local media. Footage circulated showing Jerí wearing a hooded sweatshirt while attending undisclosed late-night meetings at a chifa-a Chinese-Peruvian restaurant-with Zhihua Yang, a Chinese businessman. Yang’s company had recently secured a state energy concession, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest. A separate investigation alleged that Jerí improperly hired several young and inexperienced women into well-paid government positions following private late-night meetings at the presidential palace. Authorities were examining whether these appointments violated civil service regulations. Additionally, the Attorney General’s Office was investigating claims that Jerí received a bribe of 150,000 soles (approximately $40,000) in 2023 to facilitate funding for an irrigation project. As of the date of the censure vote, no final judicial ruling had been issued on these allegations. Succession: José María Balcázar: On 18/02/2026, Congress convened an extraordinary session to elect a new leader after Acting President of Congress Fernando Rospigliosi declined to assume the presidency. In a second-round vote, veteran lawmaker José María Balcázar, 83, defeated center-right candidate María del Carmen Alva. Reports varied slightly on the final tally, placing it between 60 and 64 votes in Balcázar’s favor. A former judge and member of the left-wing Perú Libre party, Balcázar became the oldest individual to assume the Peruvian presidency. He is expected to serve in an interim capacity until 28/07/2026, following general elections scheduled for 12/04/2026. His accession continues a period of pronounced institutional volatility in Peru, where presidential turnover has become frequent in recent years due to impeachment proceedings, resignations, and congressional maneuvers.