One of the world’s most unpopular leaders has been removed from office after a late-night vote yesterday.
Peru’s Congress voted to remove the country’s embattled president, Dina Boluarte, after a premiership characterised by accusations of corruption, protests and rising levels of violent crime.
The ousting was met with approval by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers, with 122 out of 130 members of Congress voting to pass four articles of impeachment.
The 63-year-old leader’s less than three year presidency was overshadowed by numerous allegations of corruption including the so-called ‘Rolexgate’ scandal which saw Boluarte accused of accepting Rolexes as bribes.
Scandals as well as soring crime rates led to the congress removing her on the grounds of ‘permanent moral incapacity’.
Peru’s first female president has been dubbed one of the world’s most unpopular leaders, with an abysmal approval rating fluctuating between two and four percent. For reference, Keir Starmer has an approval rate of 30 percent according to a YouGov poll.
Speaking after her removal Boluarte told the nation: ‘At all times I have called for unity,’ adding: ‘In this context, I had not thought of myself but of the more than 34 million Peruvians who deserve better.’
While scandals and investigations have crippled her popularity, surging crime figures also undermined her time in power.
The 63-year-old presidency was overshadowed by numerous allegations of corruption including the so-called ‘Rolexgate’ scandal which saw Boluarte accused of accepting Rolexes as bribes
Images show a mass execution by a gang that took place in a gold mine in Peru’s Pataz
Peru is the second largest producer of cocaine in the world with submarines carrying more than a ton of cocaine often traveling north
In recent years, Peru has seen a drastic surge in crime, hitting the highest number the country has seen in almost a decade. Homicides rose 137 percent between 2018 and 2024, extortion soared 370 percent between 2021 and 2023, and illegal gold exports reached record numbers.
Official figures released in August reveal that between January and mid-August 2025, at least 6,041 people were killed – the highest death toll for that period since 2017.
There were also nearly 16,000 extortion cases recorded between January and July, a 28 percent increase compared to the previous year.
It is possible that these statistics are far lower than the actual figure, as victims are often too scared to come forward for fear of reprisal.
Political instability, high unemployment and difficulty policing much of the country’s areas, makes the nation an easy place for criminal groups to operate.
As a result, Peru is a particular hotspot for sexual slavery, illegal organ trafficking, extortion and slavery. It is also the second-largest producer of cocaine in the world.
Before her ousting, Boluarte partly blamed situation on illegal immigration, claiming that previous administrations had allowed foreign criminal networks to take root in Peru.
Demonstrators show their delight at former President Boluarte impeachment by taking to the streets of Lima
Boluarte faced opposition from the very start of her time in office with more than 500 protests over her rule in just the first three months
‘This crime has been brewing for decades and has been strengthened by illegal immigration,’ Boluarte said during a military ceremony on Wednesday.
‘Past administrations opened our borders and allowed criminals to enter without restriction.’
She now follows in the footsteps of her predecessor Pedro Castillo, who was impeached after he attempted to dissolve Peru’s Congress in to avoid his own removal back in December 2022, promoting Boluarte’s own rise to power.
Boluarte’s ejection comes ahead of planned elections in April.
