Peru's Congress has ousted President Jose Jeri in a landslide vote over the 'Chifagate' scandal stemming from a late-night meeting with a Chinese businessman. The scandal sparked a major cross-party revolt and fueled a probe against him. Jeri did not attend the debate, claiming the censure process denied him the right to defend himself.
Peru's Congress held an extraordinary session on February 17, 2026, to admit and debate seven censure motions against President Jose Jeri, filed between January 21 and 27. Jeri's party, Somos Peru, argued that only a presidential vacancy procedure could remove him, but the motion was defeated 71-34.
The scandal, dubbed 'Chifagate,' centers on a late-night meeting between Jeri and Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang at a restaurant in Lima, which fueled a probe and triggered a major cross-party revolt. Jeri boycotted the debate, stating that the process denied him the right to mount a defense.
The affair is linked to Peru's new Chinese-built Chancay megaport, now surrounded by uncertainty. This ouster represents a significant blow to Jeri's leadership, highlighting sensitivities around diplomacy and corruption.
