Peru’s congress chief José Jeri sworn in as interim President after Dina Boluarte’s impeachment: Video

The handover took place in Lima, where Jeri received the presidential sash and pledged to lead the country until July 26, 2026.

“I swear to God, for my country, for all Peruvians, I will faithfully exercise the office of President of the Republic,” Jeri declared during his oath ceremony, before delivering his first address as head of state.

In his speech, Jeri placed citizen security at the centre of his administration’s priorities, vowing to take immediate action against the surge in organised crime. “The evil that afflicts us at this moment is citizen insecurity,” he said. “Criminal gangs, criminal organisations — they are our enemies, and we must declare war on crime.”

He also called for unity and renewal, appealing to Peruvians across generations. “From now on, we build the country we should be — the Peru of our dreams, the dreams of our parents and grandparents, and the dreams of our children, of Generation Z, which is rightfully demanding change,” he said.

Jeri’s rise to power followed a Congress vote of 124 in favour of removing Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity”, a constitutional term frequently invoked in Peru’s recent political crises. Boluarte, who did not attend the session to present her defence, was ousted less than two years after assuming office in December 2022, when she replaced former president Pedro Castillo following his failed attempt to dissolve Congress.

Peru has now seen six presidents in less than a decade, underscoring the deep political instability that has plagued the Andean nation. Jeri, stepping into the presidency amid widespread frustration and insecurity, faces the daunting task of restoring both public trust and political order.