PERU’S Congress voted early today to remove President Dina Boluarte from office as a crime wave grips the South American nation.

Congress then moved to replace her with Jose Jeri, the president of the legislative body.

Lawmakers had set up a debate and impeachment trial late on Thursday in the 130-member Congress after voting to accept four requests for a vote to remove Ms Boluarte from office over what they said was her government’s inability to stem crime.

They requested that Ms Boluarte come before them shortly before midnight to defend herself, but when she did not appear they immediately voted to oust her. 

In short order, 124 lawmakers voted just past midnight to impeach Ms Boluarte. There were no votes against the effort.

The shocking turn of events came just hours after a shooting at a concert in the capital inflamed anger over crime roiling the country.

Unlike eight previous attempts to remove Ms Boluarte, almost all legislative factions expressed support for the latest requests.

Ms Boluarte is the third Peruvian president impeached in the past five years. She took office in December 2022 after the removal of Pedro Castillo — for whom she had served as vice-president. 

Martin Vizcarra, who had become president after Pedro Pedro Kuczynski resigned ahead of impeachment proceedings in March 2018, was removed from office in November 2020.

After today’s vote, Ms Boluarte spoke on national television, recounting her administration’s achievements.

“I have not thought of myself, but rather of Peruvians,” she said.

Minutes into her speech, the broadcast was interrupted to show Mr Jeri’s swearing in.

Mr Jeri was sworn in early today as the interim president to serve out Ms Boluarte’s term. Elections are scheduled for next April and Ms Boluarte’s term was to end on July 28 2026.

Mr Jeri said he would defend Peru’s sovereignty and hand over power to the winner of the April election.