Lawmakers in Peru have voted to remove the president, Dina Boluarte, whose term has been marked by protests and accusations of failing to stem crime.
Boluarte refused to appear before Congress on Friday for an overnight hearing after a majority of lawmakers, including some once loyal to her, voted to initiate impeachment proceedings.
They summoned Boluarte to appear before Congress at 11:30pm, but she skipped the proceedings that ended with 118 lawmakers voting for her impeachment.
“The president’s impeachment has been approved,” announced the Congress leader José Jerí, who took over the South American country’s presidency until April 2026 when elections are due to be held.
“Today, I humbly assume the presidency of the republic … in order to install and lead a transitional government,” Jerí told parliament after being sworn in.
Protests have marked Boluarte’s presidency, along with various scandals, investigations and a rise in gang violence. She had already faced down several attempts to remove her from office.
The latest effort cited her “permanent moral incapacity” to carry out her duties since assuming office in December 2022.
Peru has had six presidents in about nine years.
Boluarte, who took office after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was impeached over a crackdown on protests that killed at least 50 people, had seen her approval rating plummet.
She is the subject of several investigations, including one for her alleged failure to declare gifts of luxury jewels and watches, a scandal known as “Rolexgate”.
Boluarte also gave herself a large pay increase in July.
Anti-government protests have mounted in recent weeks after the government passed a law on 5 September requiring young people to contribute to private pension funds, despite job insecurity and an unofficial employment rate of more than 70%.
Protests have also escalated over the past six months as a result of a wave of extortion and murders by organised crime groups.
