AssetID: 55483015
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Peru's Congress Ousts Interim President José Jerí After Four Months
Caption: Peru’s Congress Ousts Interim President José Jerí After Four Months. Peru’s Congress has removed interim President José Jerí from office just four months after he assumed power, citing his failure to disclose private meetings with Chinese businessmen. Lawmakers opted for a censure motion rather than impeachment, allowing his dismissal to pass with a simple majority instead of a supermajority vote. The controversy erupted after videos showed Jerí meeting businessman Zhihua Yang outside his official schedule, despite Yang being under government scrutiny. One recording captured the president in a hooded sweatshirt during a late-night visit to a restaurant owned by Yang, in what became known locally as “Chifa-gate.” Another attendee at one meeting was a Chinese national under house arrest over alleged links to an illegal timber network. Peruvian law requires presidents to log all official activities, but Jerí did not document the meetings, prompting accusations of secrecy and misconduct. Further criticism followed reports that state contracts were awarded to several women after late-night meetings at the presidential palace. Jerí apologised for the undisclosed encounters but denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was the target of a smear campaign by political rivals. His ousting makes him the third consecutive Peruvian president to be forced from office, underscoring ongoing political instability ahead of April’s general election. Congress is expected to appoint another interim leader to serve until voters choose a new president, as Peru grapples with corruption investigations, falling approval ratings and public unrest. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Peru,José Jerí,Zhihua Yang,Dina Boluarte,Congress of Peru,Ruth Luque,Chifa-gate,political crisis,presidential censure,impeachment,corruption investigation,government scandal,Chinese businessmen,state contracts,political instability,Latin America politics,interim president,general election,public protests
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