Peru’s parliament has officially obtained enough signatures on Thursday (February 12) to initiate a debate on the impeachment and condemnation of interim president Jose Jeri. The leader, who has only been in office for four months, finds himself at a critical juncture in his political career due to his involvement in a scandal involving secret meetings with a Chinese businessman.
According to parliamentary documents, once the impeachment proposal is officially submitted, the Speaker must summon Jeri to the chamber within 15 days to explain himself.
Prior to the vote, Jeri will face public questioning from members of parliament. If the impeachment and condemnation motion is passed, he will not only lose the presidency but also be stripped of his position as the former parliamentary speaker, reverting back to a regular member of parliament.
Dubbed the “Chifagate” scandal by the media, the controversy stemmed from Jeri being caught in clandestine meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang, which were not part of his official schedule. Jeri has defended himself, claiming that the impeachment is an attempt by the opposition to “destabilize the government and interfere with the upcoming national elections scheduled for April 12.”
The scandal began on December 26 last year when surveillance footage captured Jeri, wearing a hoodie, riding in the presidential car codenamed “el Cofre” to a Chinese restaurant in Lima for a late-night meeting with Yang. The Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio was also present.
Subsequently, on January 6, Jeri was again spotted wearing sunglasses at a supermarket owned by Yang, which had been ordered to close at the time due to violations.
Facing immense public pressure, Jeri issued a public apology in late January, acknowledging his mistakes. He stated, “I admit my errors…I publicly apologize for meeting with the businessman in such a secretive manner, which indeed raised suspicions and confusion about my actions.”
However, he vehemently denies any involvement in illegal requests or exchanges of benefits.
Initially, Jeri claimed that the meetings were to discuss the “Peru-China Friendship Celebration” scheduled for February 1 at the presidential palace. A few days later, he stated that he did not request the meeting but attended as an invitee to participate in a private event.
Prosecutors have initiated a preliminary investigation into his suspected “influence peddling.”
There are concerns that these meetings may be related to a public bus surveillance system procurement project worth 112 million Peruvian Soles (approximately 33 million US dollars).
While the Transport Ministry emphasizes that the tender has not been finalized and is unrelated to Yang, given China’s sensitive position as Peru’s largest trading partner, this incident has triggered a crisis of national integrity.
Jeri’s rise to power itself is a product of Peru’s political instability. In October 2025, former President Dina Boluarte was impeached by parliament on grounds of “permanent moral incapacity” for failing to curb domestic crime waves, leading to Jeri, then the parliamentary speaker, assuming power in a time of crisis.
Since 2016, Peru has seen seven presidents sworn in, making political turmoil a common occurrence. Despite some lawmakers expressing reservations about the impeachment motion due to concerns about the stability of the April elections, the “Chifagate” scandal has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Peru’s political landscape.