Peru's Congress convened on Wednesday, the 18th, to elect a new president after José Jeri was ousted the previous day. Jeri's short tenure of just four months ended amidst a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, which ultimately led to a significant loss of parliamentary support. In the congressional vote, 75 members supported his removal, while 24 voted against it, and three abstained, reflecting the polarized political climate in Peru.

Although Fernando Rospigliosi, the current president of Congress, was the next in line to succeed Jeri under constitutional law, he declined to take the presidency. As a result, Congress must now elect a new president of Congress, who will then assume the presidential role temporarily until general elections, scheduled for April 12th, can take place. This rapid turnover in leadership underscores the ongoing instability within Peru's political landscape and the challenges facing its governance.

The recent events are part of a broader pattern of political volatility in Peru, where Jeri is the third consecutive president to be ousted or resign under controversial circumstances. The upcoming elections will be critical for the direction of the country, as citizens and political analysts alike watch closely to see how this latest change in administration will affect Peru’s democratic processes and legislative reforms.