Peru's president impeached four months into term

BBC News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete February 18, 2026 at 03:52 AM

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medium article 2 min

Peru's Congress impeached interim President José Jerí just four months into his term for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen, specifically Zhihua Yang, who was under government scrutiny. The scandal, dubbed "Chifa-gate," arose after videos surfaced of Jerí meeting Yang outside of his official schedule, including a late-night visit to one of Yang's restaurants. Lawmakers voted 75 to 24 in favor of impeachment, citing Jerí's failure to document the meetings as required by Peruvian law. Jerí's removal marks the third consecutive presidential ouster in Peru and makes him the seventh president since 2016 amid a period of political instability. Congress will vote on Wednesday for the next interim president as the country prepares for a general election in April.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% China 40% Ruth Luque 40% Dina Boluarte 50% Zhihua Yang ×370% Congress of Peru ×270% Peru ×580% José Jerí ×890%

Keywords

impeachment 100% peru 90% political instability 80% josé jerí 80% corruption 70% chinese businessmen 70% scandal 60% interim president 60% congress 50% general election 40%