San Francisco Frontiers - Peru's presidential musical chairs

Since 2016, four presidents were impeached, two stepped down to avoid the same fate, and only one managed to complete his intended term.

Analysts point to a destabilizing tug-of-war between a powerful Congress and the executive, as well as chronic corruption and low levels of trust in politicians as reasons for the country's fast turnover of presidents.

A look back at a decade of political turmoil:

- Kuczynski -

In 2018, center-right politician Pedro Pablo Kuczynski -- known as "PPK" -- became the first Latin American president to resign over alleged connections to a sprawling corruption case involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Four former Peruvian presidents, including one who committed suicide, became embroiled in the same case that has claimed numerous corporate and political scalps.

Only two years into his term, Kuczynski relinquished power on the eve of an impeachment vote, making way for his deputy Martin Vizcarra to take over.

Kuczynski remains under investigation and has been barred from leaving the country, but is registered as a candidate for Senate elections this year.

- Vizcarra -

Kuczynski's replacement Martin Vizcarra lasted only two years in the job, ousted by Congress in 2020 for "moral incapacity " -- a charge that has also been leveled against other Peruvian leaders.

After clashing with lawmakers, he was ultimately convicted of taking kickbacks in exchange for public work contracts when he was a governor.

Vizcarra was also named in a scandal dubbed "Vaccinegate", with 500 officials accused of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of their turn.

Last year, he began serving a 14-year-sentence for graft, joining two other former presidents behind bars at a special penitentiary for ex-leaders east of Lima.

- Merino -

Then head of Congress, Manuel Merino took over as interim president, but only lasted five days before resigning in the wake of violent protests against him by Vizcarra supporters.

Two people were killed in clashes with police, and dozens injured.

-Sagasti -

Following Merino’s resignation, centrist academic Francisco Sagasti was appointed stand-in president and led the country until planned elections in 2021 -- becoming the only recent leader to complete his intended term, even an interim one.

- Castillo -

Rural school teacher Pedro Castillo won the 2021 election, but found himself lacking a majority in a Congress dominated by right-wing opponents.

Hailed as Peru's "first poor president," he was ousted by a vote in parliament and arrested 17 months into his term after trying to dissolve Congress to avoid impeachment proceedings for alleged graft.

His downfall sparked angry protests that led to dozens of deaths.

Castillo is serving a sentence of over 11 years in jail.

- Boluarte -

Castillo's vice president Dina Boluarte then became Peru's first woman leader, but only for 22 months.

She was unpopular from the get-go and soon embroiled in corruption allegations including accusations that she received Rolex watches and jewelry as bribes.

Boluarte was also investigated over an unannounced two-week absence in 2023 for a nose surgery, which she insists was medical and not cosmetic.

She was impeached last October amid widespread protests over government graft and a wave of violence linked to organized crime.

- Jeri -

Jose Jeri, until then president of Congress, was chosen to serve out the remainder of Boluarte's term until July this year.

Only 39, he took up the role with gusto, launching into an anti-crime drive that proved popular with the electorate but not enough to keep his head off the chopping block.

U.Campbell--SFF