**Lima, Peru** – Peru's already volatile political landscape has been further destabilised following the swift impeachment and removal of interim President José Jerí. The legislative body, the Peruvian Congress, voted decisively to oust Jerí, who had held the nation's highest office for a mere four months, amidst a burgeoning scandal involving clandestine meetings with Chinese businessmen. This latest upheaval marks the third consecutive presidential ousting and underscores a pervasive pattern of executive instability that has plagued the Andean nation in recent years.
The impeachment proceedings, characterised by acting speaker Fernando Rospigliosi as an "express impeachment," were triggered by allegations that Jerí failed to disclose crucial encounters with foreign nationals, most notably Chinese businessman Yang Zhihua, also known as "Johnny." Security camera footage purportedly captured Jerí engaging in secretive meetings outside his official engagements, a controversy quickly dubbed "Chifa-gate," referencing one such rendezvous held at a restaurant owned by Yang. The clandestine nature of these meetings, exacerbated by Jerí's alleged appearance in a hooded top during one encounter, raised serious questions about transparency and potential undue influence.
Adding a layer of complexity to the scandal is the presence of another Chinese national, Ji Wu Xiaodong, at one of these undisclosed gatherings. Xiaodong is reportedly under house arrest and faces accusations of involvement in an illegal timber-trafficking network. While Jerí has vehemently denied any impropriety, attributing the accusations to a politically motivated smear campaign by his adversaries, the revelations have severely eroded public trust. His approval ratings, already flagging due to a confluence of prior scandals, have reportedly plummeted, prompting political parties to distance themselves as the nation gears up for presidential elections scheduled for April.
This latest presidential turnover is symptomatic of Peru's chronic political fragility. Jerí's tenure followed that of former leader Dina Boluarte, who herself was impeached last October. The nation has witnessed a dizzying succession of leaders since 2016, with Pedro Pablo Kuczynski serving from 2016 to March 2018, followed by Martín Vizcarra from 2018 to November 2020. A brief interregnum saw Manuel Merino occupy the presidency for a mere five days. Analysts attribute this recurrent instability, in part, to Peru's robust parliamentary system, which often wields significant power over a comparatively weaker executive branch.
In the immediate aftermath of Jerí's ousting, Peru is set to convene on Wednesday to elect yet another interim president, a procedural necessity given the impending April elections. Meanwhile, prosecutors have already launched a preliminary investigation into allegations of influence-peddling stemming from Jerí's undisclosed meetings. As the nation navigates this latest political storm, the focus remains squarely on restoring a semblance of stability and ensuring a transparent electoral process in the coming months. The persistent cycle of presidential departures leaves many questioning the long-term prospects for effective governance in Peru.