Peru’s president ousted after four months in 'Chifagate'

Peru’s interim president was removed in an “express impeachment” after lawmakers voted 75 to 24 to proceed with his ouster. José Jerí had served for four months and became embroiled in a scandal dubbed “Chifagate” when security-camera footage showed clandestine meetings with Chinese businessmen, including one appearance where he seems to try to hide his identity with a hooded top.

Jerí, 39, is the country’s eighth president since 2016 amid repeated oustings, resignations and interim terms. The acting speaker of congress, Fernando Rospigliosi, said lawmakers would vote on Wednesday to choose who will replace him just months before the presidential elections in April.

Prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation into alleged influence-peddling linked to meetings with Yang Zhihua, known as “Johnny.” Another attendee, Ji Wu Xiaodong, is accused of belonging to an illegal timber-trafficking network called Los Hostiles de la Amazonia and had been under house arrest for two years.

Peru

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