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Facing abysmal approval ratings between 2% and 4%, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte is confronting a new impeachment motion alleging “permanent moral incapacity.” This follows previous unsuccessful attempts to remove her. The motion, supported by at least 34 lawmakers, requires 52 votes to proceed to debate. Boluarte’s presidency, starting after Pedro Castillo’s ouster in 2022, has been plagued by deadly protests and accusations of excessive force. The “Rolexgate” scandal, involving undeclared assets, and a controversial salary increase have further fueled discontent. Peru is scheduled to hold general elections in April 2026.
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LIMA, Oct 9 (Reuters) – A bloc of opposition lawmakers in Peru on Thursday presented a fresh motion to remove President Dina Boluarte – one of the world’s most unpopular leaders – from office.
The proposal is the latest of a series of so far unsuccessful motions, and comes as the South American nation prepares for elections next April.
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The motion, which seeks to remove Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity,” was signed by at least 34 lawmakers from various parties.
At least 52 must approve it in an upcoming plenary session of Congress before it can be debated in a separate session, which will decide whether or not it can proceed.
“The only way of moving forwards is Dina Boluarte’s impeachment,” Congresswoman Susel Paredes said in a post on X, in which she shared the document. “Various blocs agree and that’s why the motion has now been presented.”
Boluarte came to power in December 2022 as her predecessor President Pedro Castillo, under whom she had served as vice president, was ousted and arrested after he attempted to dissolve Congress.
Castillo’s removal was met with months of widespread, deadly protests particularly in rural Andean and Indigenous communities, and rights groups have accused Boluarte’s government of using excessive force to repress the protests.
Her approval ratings are hovering between 2% and 4%.
The motion document Paredes shared cited “serious corruption allegations” including the so-called Rolexgate scandal as among the reasons for her removal.
Peru’s conservative-dominated Congress has so far rejected motions to begin a process to remove her from office, but with half a year to go before the elections, more lawmakers have expressed support for the motion.
Peru has had six presidents since 2018 and four former leaders are currently behind bars.
Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Kylie Madry and Bill Berkrot
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
