• After shielding her from public backlash, Congress ultimately removed Dina Boluarte from office in October 2025 for permanent moral incapacity.
• Peru has seen a sharp rise in crime and insecurity over the past eight years, deepening public distrust of both Congress and the president.
• Peru now faces uncertainty as the elections approach, with no clear public favourite and a significant field of candidates. 

Why is Dina Boluarte Freezing? 

Answer: President Boluarte was forced out of the Peruvian presidency due to the accumulation of public disapproval and the insecurity crisis.

On October 10, 2025, the Peruvian Congress voted unanimously to remove President Dina Boluarty from office. Her removal came in the wake of a deepening insecurity crisis in Peru as increasing organised crime went unaddressed by the government. Public discontent with the government’s inaction was reflected in Boluarte’s 96% disapproval rating recorded in September 2025. 

Boluarte assumed power after former President Pedro Castillo’s failed attempt to dissolve Congress in a “self-coup”. He was later removed on charges of treason and corruption. 

A combination of controversial actions throughout Boluarte’s tenure, an all-time-low approval rating, and poor receptions to public appearances effectively created an environment in which Peruvians blamed her for the lack of solutions to the multiple crises that have shaken Peru. This left an unpopular Congress an opportunity to impeach her. 

What is changing Boluarte’s heat level? 

Answer: The public view of Boluarte, including perceptions of illegitimacy and inaction in addressing criminality, led Congress to unite against her to preserve their re-electability in the upcoming elections. 

From the start of her presidency in 2022, Boluarte’s succession sparked immediate public backlash in the south of Peru by Andean communities enraged by Castillo’s removal. Her response saw the deployment of police and the Armed Forces, causing violent clashes that would lead to 60 deaths. 

Additionally, Peru is facing one of its worst waves of criminality in recent history. This is a problem that has been brewing for the last 8 years, with increasing reported incidents involving organised criminal gangs. Organised crime groups are among the major contributors to the increase in extortions and homicides nationwide. Since 2019, reported extortions have increased by 478%. In 2025, murders increased threefold compared to 2022, setting a quarterly record of 1200 reported homicides from January to July. The lack of an institutional response has contributed to public fears.

While extortions and homicides have affected the whole population, the most affected are small and medium-sized businesses, including informal employment, which are the backbone of the Peruvian economy. The increase in cases of murders and extortion led to the breakout of public protests and strikes demanding a response from the government. 

Boluarte’s answer to the rise in crime has sparked widespread public dissatisfaction and anger, as responses to extortion were seen as dismissive and downplayed the gravity of the issue. Furthermore, placing the district of Lima and its neighbouring district, Callao, under a state of emergency has further deepened public intolerance toward her actions, as several constitutional rights were limited. 

Most importantly, Boluarte was left without any support in Congress. At the beginning of her term, she distanced herself from the ‘Peru Libre’ party that helped her become vice-president alongside Castillo, and maintained no allies in Congress for her cabinet. Allegations of corruption, combined with public backlash, gave Congress an opportunity to remove her from office. 

The relationship of the Peruvian presidency with Congress has been shaped by the high turnover of executives in Peru over the past decade. The previous six executives had been removed for corruption or moral incapacity. The timing of her impeachment is no coincidence either, as it is unconstitutional to dissolve Congress in the last year of the presidential mandate.

What is driving Dina Boluarte? 

Answer: Boluarte aimed to stay in office as long as she could by appealing to the powerful coalition in Congress to push her personal agenda.

Since the beginning of her presidency in December 2022, Dina Boluarte had intended to remain in power for the entirety of Castillo’s original term—until July 2026. Soon after assuming office, Boluarte sought to form a coalition with a majority in Congress to secure their seats by not calling early elections until the end of her presidency. 

The agreement was unambiguous: Boluarte would not oppose Congress, and Congress would support her. Thus, Boluarte permitted Congress to enact several laws and policies that have strengthened the legislative branch’s authority over institutions,thereby eroding democratic principles by limiting judicial and constitutional control over Congressional decisions. Boluarte has approved regulations thatlimit the deterrent to illegal mining, laws that weaken prosecutions of criminal organisations, and laws that criminalise civilian protests.  

In exchange, Boluarte would pursue her personal goals with the support of Congress, particularly increasing her wealth while in office. This is reflected in the undeclared luxury jewellery and watches linked to her, known as “Rolexgate”, as well as ongoing corruption investigations into her unexplained increase in assets. Evidenced in an investigation presented by the Prosecutors’ Office, Boluarte’s net worth since she arrived at the presidency increased by 550.000 soles (about 140.410€) that had not been declared. Her protection as the President of the Republic suspended her accusations, which are now intended to be resumed as she awaits trial. 

What does this mean for you? 

Answer: The profound instability in Peru has united a country, spearheaded by Gen Z, that has grown tired of a cycle of changing faces without actual institutional reforms. 

Protests for change in Peru echo those across the globe, led by Generation Z. Following the protests in Bangladesh in 2024, which led to the removal of Sheikh Hasina, Gen Z’s uproar spread worldwide. In August 2025, Indonesia experienced several student-led protests over members of parliament receiving allowances over 10 times the minimum wage. In Nepal, Gen Z rallied in protestagainst government corruption, the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ kids, and the massive ban on social media apps. Similarly, other protests would follow in Madagascar and Morocco, showing a tire of the status quo of corruption and inequality. 

Peru faces political uncertainty with no clear candidate; voters distrust congressional candidates, leading to record disapproval ratings. This chaos inhibits the interim government’s efforts to resolve the insecurity crisis.