Peru’s President Ousted Amidst Corruption Allegations and Political Turmoil
Peru’s Congress voted on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, to remove President José Jerí from office just four months into his term, following a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman. This marks the second time a Peruvian President has been impeached in less than six months and the sixth time a president has left office before completing their term in the last decade, highlighting the country’s persistent political instability.
Impeachment Vote and Aftermath
The impeachment motion passed with 75 votes in favor, 24 against and three abstentions [Reuters]. Lawmakers will now elect a new head of Congress, who will likewise assume the presidency, making them Peru’s eighth president in as many years [Channel News Asia].
Fernando Rospigliosi, the current acting head of Congress, declined to assume the presidency as dictated by the constitution. Instead, the legislature will choose a new leader on Wednesday, February 19, 2026, with parties having until 6:00 p.m. Local time to nominate candidates [Time].
A general election is scheduled for April 12, 2026, with the new President taking office on July 28, 2026 [Time].
The “Chifagate” Scandal
The impeachment stemmed from a scandal dubbed “Chifagate” – a reference to the local name for Chinese restaurants – after videos surfaced showing Jerí secretly meeting with Chinese businessman Yang Zhihua [Channel News Asia]. The footage, captured in December 2025 and January 2026, showed Jerí arriving at restaurants owned by Yang late at night, wearing a hood and sunglasses to conceal his identity [Channel News Asia].
Peruvian law requires presidents to disclose official activities, but Jerí failed to report these meetings [PBS]. Jerí acknowledged the authenticity of the videos but denied any wrongdoing, stating he had known Yang prior to becoming president and that Yang had gifted him candy and paintings without accepting payment “because he was being kind to me” [Time]. He also refused to provide his phone records to lawmakers.
Further investigations revealed that another Chinese businessman, Ji Wu Xiaodong, who is reportedly under house arrest due to alleged ties to illegal logging, had visited the presidential palace on three occasions while Jerí was in office [Time]. Jerí denied having a close relationship with Ji Wu, claiming he was a friend of Yang’s.
A Pattern of Political Instability
Jerí’s removal continues a pattern of political upheaval in Peru. His predecessor, Dina Boluarte, was impeached in October 2025 amid criticism of rising crime rates and corruption investigations [Time]. Jerí assumed the presidency after Boluarte’s removal, as there was no acting vice president at the time.
Boluarte had become president in 2022 after Pedro Castillo was removed from office following a failed attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree. Castillo was subsequently convicted of conspiracy and rebellion and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Previous presidents, including Alejandro Toledo (sentenced to 20 years for corruption and money laundering) and Ollanta Humala (sentenced to 15 years for illegal campaign financing), have also faced lengthy prison terms [Time].
The frequent changes in leadership underscore the Peruvian political class’s failure to address voter concerns regarding crime and corruption, leaving the country in a cycle of short-lived administrations and a deeply unpopular Congress [Channel News Asia].