Impeachment of Dina Boluarte

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Impeachment of Dina Boluarte
Presidenta Boluarte 2024.jpg
Boluarte in 2024
Accused Dina Boluarte, president of Peru
Proponents Congress of Peru
Date7 December 2022 (2022-12-07) to 10 October 2025 (2025-10-10)
OutcomeVacancy approval
ChargesAdopted: "Moral incapacity" under Article 113 § 2 of the Constitution of Peru

On 10 October 2025, the Congress of the Republic of Peru voted unanimously to remove Dina Boluarte as President of Peru for "permanent moral incapacity" under Article 113 of the Constitution of Peru. The impeachment was declared after the vote surpassed the required threshold of 87 votes in favor. [1] Boluarte thus became the fifth president removed via this mechanism, following Guillermo Billinghurst (1914), Alberto Fujimori (2000), Martín Vizcarra (2020), and Pedro Castillo (2022).

Contents

Boluarte's presidency was marked by historic unpopularity; she was frequently described as the "world's least popular leader," with an approval rating as low as 2% in early 2025 amid allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and repeated impeachment attempts. While previous efforts to oust her—spearheaded by left-wing parties—had failed, a broad coalition eventually formed. Right-wing parties joined the calls for her removal following a surge in violent crime, including the Círculo Militar de Chorrillos shooting  [ es ]. Boluarte declined to appear before Congress, with her lawyer citing alleged violations of due process. Shortly after midnight, Congress declared the presidency vacant, and José Jerí, the incumbent president of Congress, was sworn in as her successor.

Background

Throughout her tenure, Boluarte was chronically unpopular, reaching a historic low of 2% approval as of March 2025. [2] [3] Consequently, she was labeled "the world's least popular leader" [4] [5] or the "most unpopular leader in the world". [6] [7] She faced multiple impeachment motions stemming from various scandals and allegations of corruption, criticism of her handling of security crises, and general disapproval of her governance. [8] None of the initial motions succeeded, as they were primarily supported only by left and far-left parties. [9] [10] However, right-wing parties—including Popular Renewal, We Are Peru, Alliance for Progress, and even Popular Force—eventually lent their support to the final impeachment process. [11] [12] [8]

Impeachment

On 9 October 2025, several congressional blocs submitted multiple motions of impeachment against President Boluarte. [13] [14] [15] At the time of filing, it was unclear whether the motions had the necessary support to be admitted for debate. The central arguments for impeachment were the ongoing security crisis—exacerbated by the Círculo Militar de Chorrillos shooting  [ es ] the previous day—and the government's eroding authority. [16] [17] At 5:00 p.m., a second motion (Agenda 19770) was introduced by Congresswoman Norma Yarrow  [ es ] and other legislators, citing the escalating security crisis, a lack of executive leadership, and an alleged inability to govern. [15]

At least four motions were registered that day, all citing "permanent moral incapacity" as the grounds. The congressmen promoting impeachment argued that the security crisis had reached critical levels under Boluarte, that her policies were insufficient, and that governability was severely compromised. [13] [14] [15] Concurrently, the Council of Ministers, led by Eduardo Arana Ysa, and the Minister of the Interior, Carlos Malaver  [ es ], presented anti-crime measures to Congress. However, many parliamentarians deemed these responses unsatisfactory and untimely. [18] [19]

As rumors of a potential escape circulated, some legislators submitted documents to several embassies to preemptively deny Boluarte asylum upon her removal. [20] Her lawyer, Juan Carlos Portugal, however, publicly ruled out any such intention. [21] Meanwhile, demonstrators gathered outside the Ecuadorian embassy and the president's residence in Surquillo. [22]

A brief debate on the impeachment motions was held at 9:00 p.m., followed by five votes to admit them. All five passed with a congressional majority, with Congressman Alfredo Azurín  [ es ] of We Are Peru as the sole dissenting vote on each occasion. [23] A request to hold the final impeachment vote at 11:30 p.m. was then approved with 113 votes in favour. [12] Boluarte did not appear in Congress at the scheduled time. [24] Her lawyer issued a statement declaring that Boluarte would not attend, arguing that the limited time given to prepare violated her right to defense and that they would not legitimize the proceeding. [25]

The impeachment process began at 11:50 p.m. The final vote commenced at 00:01 on 10 October 2025, and at 00:07, Boluarte's removal was announced with 122 votes in favour, 0 against, and 0 abstentions. [26] [27] [28]

Following the removal, a motion of censure against the Board of Directors presided over by José Jerí was introduced for debate. [29] While this motion was being voted on, Boluarte issued a recorded statement defending her administration. [30] After the motion of censure was rejected, Jerí was sworn in as the new president. [31] [32]

Voting results

The final vote on the presidential impeachment was held on 10 October 2025. The constitution grants the president the right to a defense, and the session was scheduled for this purpose; however, as noted, President Boluarte chose not to attend. [27]

The motion to remove Boluarte for "permanent moral incapacity" was approved unanimously by the legislators present, with 121 votes in favor, 0 against, and 0 abstentions, resulting in the vacancy of the presidency.

PresidentDateVote Popular Force Alliance for Progress Podemos Perú Together for Peru Free Peru Popular Renewal We Are Peru Popular Action Go on Country – Social Integration Party Honor y Democracia Bancada Socialista Democratic People's Bloc Ind.Total


Dina Boluarte

Ind.
10 October 2025

Checkmark.svg

Motion approved

Office vacated

Checkmark.svg Yes211613109118963555
121 / 130
X mark.svg  No
0 / 130
Abstain
0 / 130

References

  1. Briceño, Franklin (9 October 2025). "Peru's Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  2. Averbuch, Maya (26 May 2024). "Peru's Unpopular Leader Hits New Low: A 5% Approval Rating". Bloomberg News .
  3. "Deeply unpopular Peruvian president calls for general elections in April 2026". AP News. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. Hurowitz, Noah (23 October 2024). "Meet the World's Least Popular President". The Intercept. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  5. Monney, Solène (19 May 2025). "On vous présente la présidente la plus détestée au monde". Blick (in Swiss French). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. Why Peru's President is the Most Unpopular Leader in the World. TLDR News. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025 via YouTube.
  7. "Presidenta de Perú registra solo un 2 % de aprobación". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 September 2025. Dina Boluarte es quizás la presidenta más impopular del mundo, con apenas un 2 % de aprobación.[Dina Boluarte is perhaps the most unpopular president in the world, with an approval rating of just 2%.]
  8. 1 2 Briceño, Franklin (9 October 2025). "Peru's Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. "Caso Rolex: presentan moción de vacancia contra Dina Boluarte" [Rolex case: They present a motion of impeachment against Dina Boluarte]. Gestión (in Spanish). 31 March 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. "Bancadas de izquierda presentan moción de vacancia contra Dina Boluarte por viajar al extranjero" [Leftist benches present motion of impeachment against Dina Boluarte for travelling abroad]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 12 October 2023. ISSN   1605-3052 . Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  11. "Pleno da cuenta de cuatro mociones de vacancia contra la presidenta Dina Boluarte" [Plenary session reports four motions of impeachment against President Dina Boluarte]. Comunicaciones del Congreso de la República (in Spanish). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Pleno del Congreso aprueba admisión a debate de mociones de vacancia contra la presidenta Dina Boluarte" [Plenary session of Congress approves admission to debate of motions of impeachment against President Dina Boluarte]. Comunicaciones del Congreso de la República (in Spanish). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  13. 1 2 Barrera, Jorge Luis Pinedo (9 October 2025). "Constitucionalista explica el proceso de vacancia presidencial y los posibles escenarios de sucesión" [Constitutionalist explains the presidential impeachment process and the possible succession scenarios]. RPP (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Congresistas exigen vacancia presidencial contra Dina Boluarte por ola de criminalidad y falta de liderazgo" [Congressmen demand presidential impeachment against Dina Boluarte due to crime wave and lack of leadership]. Comunicaciones del Congreso de la República (in Spanish). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 "Presentan segunda moción de vacancia contra la presidenta Dina Boluarte" [Second motion of impeachment against President Dina Boluarte presented]. Comunicaciones del Congreso de la República (in Spanish). 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  16. Pantoja, Karina Valencia (9 October 2025). "Dina Boluarte: ¿cómo es el proceso de vacancia presidencial en el Perú?" [Dina Boluarte: what is the presidential impeachment process like in Peru?]. RPP (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  17. Ezerskii, Tomás (9 October 2025). "Moción de vacancia a Dina Boluarte: Cuántos votos se necesitan y quién sería presidente del Perú si se aprueba" [Motion to impeach Dina Boluarte: How many votes are needed and who would be president of Peru if it is approved]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  18. Villarroel Zurita, Alexander (9 October 2025). "Eduardo Arana y su gabinete se presentaron ante el Congreso por el avance de la criminalidad" [Eduardo Arana and his cabinet appeared before Congress due to the advance of crime]. El Comercio (in Spanish). ISSN   1605-3052 . Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  19. Mendoza Talledo, Valeria (10 October 2025). "Carlos Malaver defiende su gestión en el Mininter y pide reconocer el trabajo de la PNP: "El tiempo dará la razón"" [Carlos Malaver defends his management in the Ministry of the Interior and asks to recognise the work of the PNP: "Time will prove right"]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  20. Calderón, Camila (10 October 2025). "Dina Boluarte sin salida: congresistas invocan a más de 40 embajadas negarse a dar asilo o refugio político a la presidenta" [Dina Boluarte with no way out: congressmen invoke more than 40 embassies to refuse to give asylum or political refuge to the president]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  21. Acosta, Sebastián (9 October 2025). "Abogado de Dina Boluarte descarta que mandataria planee fugarse o buscar asilo: "Está bastante serena"" [Dina Boluarte's lawyer rules out that the president plans to flee or seek asylum: "She is quite serene"]. RPP (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  22. Tosso, Valeria (9 October 2025). "Manifestantes se congregan en Embajada de Ecuador y frente al Congreso ante moción de vacancia contra Dina Boluarte" [Demonstrators gather at the Ecuadorian Embassy and in front of Congress in the face of a motion to impeach Dina Boluarte]. La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  23. Calderón, Camila; Rojas Berríos, Manuel (9 October 2025). "Vacancia contra Dina Boluarte: Congreso admitió por mayoría las cuatro mociones para destituir a la presidenta y falta acordar fecha de presentación" [Impeachment against Dina Boluarte: Congress admitted by majority the four motions to remove the president and a date of presentation has yet to be agreed]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  24. Espinoza, Analí (10 October 2025). "Dina Boluarte es vacada por "incapacidad moral permanente" por el Congreso de Perú" [Dina Boluarte is impeached for "permanent moral incapacity" by Peru's Congress]. Infobae (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  25. "Abogado de Dina Boluarte: "No acudiremos al Parlamento"" [Dina Boluarte's lawyer: "We will not go to Parliament"]. Panamericana Televisión (in Spanish). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  26. "Congreso de la República aprueba vacancia de Dina Boluarte con 122 votos a favor" [Congress of the Republic approves Dina Boluarte's impeachment with 122 votes in favour]. Comunicaciones del Congreso de la República (in Spanish). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Congreso vacó a Dina Boluarte de la presidencia: así votaron las bancadas en el Pleno" [Congress removed Dina Boluarte from the presidency: this is how the benches voted in the Plenary]. Infobae (in Spanish). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  28. Palacios, Oswaldo (10 October 2025). "Congreso aprueba la vacancia de Dina Boluarte" [Congress approves the impeachment of Dina Boluarte]. RPP (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  29. "Congreso declara la vacancia de Dina Boluarte" [Congress declares the impeachment of Dina Boluarte]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 10 October 2025. ISSN   1605-3052 . Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  30. "Dina Boluarte emite su último mensaje a la nación tras ser vacada por el Congreso" [Dina Boluarte issues her last message to the nation after being impeached by Congress]. lpderecho.pe (in Spanish). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  31. Acosta, Sebastián (10 October 2025). "José Jerí juró como presidente de la República tras vacancia de Dina Boluarte" [José Jerí was sworn in as president of the Republic after the impeachment of Dina Boluarte]. RPP (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  32. Aquino, Marco; Morland, Sarah (10 October 2025). "Peru's president removed by Congress, legislature chief sworn in". Reuters. Retrieved 10 October 2025.