Peru’s Congress voted on Thursday to remove President Dina Boluarte from office for moral incapacity after a late-night session to debate her impeachment. Lawmakers voted 122-0 to remove Boluarte.
She was replaced by congressional leader José Jerí.
The impeachment proceedings were initiated after various lawmakers brought allegations of corruption and the government’s excessive use of force against demonstrators.
Boluarte’s lawyer claimed to have received only 50 minutes between notification and the hearing. Boluarte chose not to attend Congress to present her defense, citing procedural violations.
The impeachment proceedings that resulted in Boluarte’s removal were commenced under Article 113 of Peru’s Constitution, which allows for presidential removal due to permanent moral or physical incapacity.
Under Article 113 of the Peruvian Constitution, the presidency can be declared vacant due to “permanent moral or physical incapacity.”
This provision has been central to several recent presidential removals in Peru’s history, often serving as a mechanism for Congress to oust leaders it deems unfit.
Dina Boluarte was said to be one of the world’s most unpopular leaders with an approval rating of only 2-4%.
She had been under investigation for several months under various allegations of bribery and corruption, as well as for a deadly crackdown on protestors in 2022.
She had also reportedly doubled her salary in July of this year.
This comes after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights decried the Peruvian government’s passage of a law granting amnesty to human rights violators in August.
Just two days later, UN human rights experts had also criticized that law.
This also comes just months after a Peruvian Indigenous community leader called for a state of emergency over illegal mining in the country.
(Jurist)
