Peru's political situation is more unstable. Interim President José Jerí was removed from office. This happened quickly. Jose Maria Balcazar is the new interim leader. He is a former judge. He is also a lawmaker from the left. This is the ninth president in ten years. It shows the country has ongoing problems with its government.
Jerí was impeached on Wednesday. There was much pressure on him. A scandal called "Chifagate" grew. Videos appeared to show Jerí meeting Chinese businessmen. These meetings were not on his official schedule. Other scandals also happened. Because of this, people liked Jerí less. Now, Peru is preparing for elections in April.
The "Chifagate" scandal had a big effect. Political groups started to separate. This happened as the election campaign got stronger. Prosecutors have started an investigation. They are looking into the secret meetings. They are also checking for possible influence. One businessman is being investigated. He might be part of an illegal timber business. This makes people question the president's office.
Removing Jerí from office was very fast. Many lawmakers voted for his removal. Then, Congress met to choose a new leader. This showed how divided Peruvian politics is. The first vote did not have enough support. Jose Maria Balcazar got enough votes later. However, one party did not vote in the second round. This shows there are deep disagreements.
Balcazar will be president for a short time. He will serve until the new president starts in late July. This quick change of leaders shows Peru's long-term instability. Four of the last eight presidents were impeached or resigned. Balcazar's appointment is another difficult moment. Peru is facing many challenges with its government.