Congress of Peru

The Congress of Peru is the legislative branch of the Peruvian government. It is a unicameral body responsible for enacting laws, overseeing the executive branch, and approving the national budget. The Congress has recently been in the news due to its impeachment of interim President Jose Jeri just four months into his term. Jeri faced allegations of corruption, specifically failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen and influence peddling. The Congress voted to remove Jeri from office, triggering political instability ahead of upcoming presidential and congressional elections in April. Following Jeri's removal, Jose Maria Balcazar, a member of Congress, was appointed as interim president to serve until a new executive is sworn in. This event highlights the Congress's power to remove the president and its central role in Peruvian politics, especially during periods of political turmoil and transition. The frequent removal of presidents by Congress underscores the ongoing political instability within Peru.