Peru Plunges Into Political Turmoil as Seventh President in a Decade Falls to ‘Chifagate’ Scandal

Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, was removed from office Tuesday amid corruption allegations, further destabilizing the country as it approaches presidential and congressional elections in April.

The ouster follows a scandal dubbed “Chifagate,” in which Jerí was allegedly filmed meeting with a Chinese businessman who holds a concession for an energy project. Reports indicate he also met with another business person reportedly under investigation for alleged involvement in illegal logging.

Lawmakers removed Jerí by voting to censure him as head of Congress, a procedure requiring only a simple majority that automatically stripped him of the presidency. Following the vote, Jerí stated he would respect the outcome while denying any wrongdoing. He is expected to return to his role as a legislator.

This latest political upheaval marks another chapter in Peru’s prolonged governmental instability, which has seen seven presidents cycle through office since 2016. The frequency of leadership changes has created significant challenges for consistent governance and policy implementation in the South American nation.

Jerí had assumed the presidency on October 10, 2025, following the dismissal of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte. Right-wing parties that had previously supported Boluarte withdrew their backing amid separate corruption scandals. Since Boluarte had no vice president, Jerí, who was then serving as head of Congress, was next in the constitutional line of succession.

The Peruvian Congress will now elect a new leader who will also assume the presidency until July 28, 2026, when the winner of the April 12 election is scheduled to be sworn in. This temporary leadership arrangement adds another layer of uncertainty to Peru’s political landscape.

The timing of this leadership crisis is particularly significant as Peru heads toward its presidential election with a crowded field of candidates. Conservative businessman Rafael López Aliaga currently leads in polls, while Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, is running second in most surveys.

Fujimori narrowly lost her last presidential bid in 2021, securing 49% of the vote. Peru’s electoral system requires candidates to win more than 50% of votes to avoid a runoff; if no candidate achieves this threshold in April, the top two finishers will advance to a second round in June.

The Chinese connection in the scandal highlights Peru’s complex relationship with China, which has become an increasingly important economic partner and investor in the country’s energy and infrastructure sectors. The undisclosed meetings between Jerí and Chinese business interests have raised concerns about transparency and potential foreign influence in domestic affairs.

Peru’s political instability comes at a challenging time for the country, which has faced economic difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation, once praised for its economic growth and stability in the region, has struggled with institutional corruption that has undermined public confidence in government leadership.

Political analysts note that parties have until 6 p.m. local time to present candidates for the new congressional leadership position, with the legislature expected to vote on a new president on February 18. The frequent turnover in leadership has complicated Peru’s ability to address long-term challenges, including inequality, infrastructure development, and economic diversification.

As Peru approaches another transition of power, citizens and international observers alike watch closely to see if the country can establish greater political stability following years of tumultuous governance.