José Jerí is a Peruvian lawyer and politician who served as the first millennial President of Peru from 2025 to 2026. After a career in the Congress of the Republic, he assumed the presidency following the removal of Dina Boluarte. He is best known for his short-lived term as head of state, which ended after the legislature passed a vote of no confidence against him.
The ascension of José Jerí to the presidency of Peru in October 2025 marked a historic shift, as he became the nation's first millennial head of state at age 38. His term emerged from a cascade of legislative instability, following the unanimous removal of his predecessor, Dina Boluarte, amid widespread civil unrest across the country.
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Born in Lima's Jesús María District in 1986, Jerí pursued law at the Federico Villarreal National University and the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega University. Before entering national politics, he held various administrative roles, including a tenure as Secretary General in the Ancash Regional Government. His political affiliation with the centrist We Are Peru party began in 2013. He secured a seat in the Congress of the Republic for the 2021–2026 term after the disqualification of former president Martín Vizcarra, having run as the third candidate on the Lima electoral list.
Congressional Tenure and Controversies
During his time in Congress, Jerí served as spokesperson for his party and chaired the Budget Committee. His tenure was marked by multiple public scandals, including a 2022 incident involving the violation of COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions at a bar in Miraflores. In 2025, he faced formal allegations of sexual assault stemming from a 2024 New Year's Eve gathering in Canta. A civil court ordered him to undergo psychological evaluation for his behavior, and he subsequently faced charges for disobeying these judicial mandates.
The Presidency and Removal
Jerí was elected President of the Congress of the Republic on 26 July 2025 with support from a broad legislative coalition. Following the removal of Dina Boluarte on 10 October 2025, he assumed the presidency of the executive branch. His inaugural pledges to initiate national reconciliation were short-lived. On 12 February 2026, the legislature passed a vote of no confidence against him. By 17 February 2026, he was stripped of his authority, becoming the sixth president to be removed by the Peruvian Congress in modern history.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 November 1986, Lima
- Education: Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal; Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
- Political Party: We Are Peru
- Congressional Term: 2021–2026
- President of Congress: July 2025–February 2026
- President of Peru: October 2025–February 2026
Questions readers ask
How did Jerí become president of Peru?
He assumed the presidency in his capacity as the President of the Congress of the Republic following the impeachment and removal of Dina Boluarte on 10 October 2025.
Why was Jerí removed from office?
The Congress of the Republic of Peru approved a vote of no confidence against him on 12 February 2026, leading to his removal from the presidency on 17 February 2026.
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