• Peru's Congress voted to remove President Jose Jeri over undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman.
• Jeri's removal marks the third consecutive ouster of a Peruvian president amid a political crisis.
• The scandal, dubbed "Chifagate," involved secret meetings that violated transparency laws.
• Lawmakers will elect a new interim president as Peru prepares for April elections.
• Jeri has faced wider public discontent over ongoing issues of crime and corruption.

Peru's Congress voted to remove President Jose Jeri following a scandal involving undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang, which has been termed "Chifagate." The vote, which took place on February 17, saw 75 lawmakers in favor of the censure motion, while 24 voted against it. This incident underscores the ongoing political instability in Peru, where Jeri is the third consecutive president removed from office, following Dina Boluarte and Pedro Castillo, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and SCMP.

The allegations arose after videos surfaced showing Jeri meeting with Yang and another Chinese individual under investigation for illegal activities. Jeri was filmed entering a restaurant late at night wearing a hooded top, sparking public outrage and leading to a censure motion that was passed with a simple majority. Jeri's failure to register these meetings violated Peruvian law requiring transparency in official activities, according to Los Angeles Times and BBC.

Lawmakers now face the task of selecting a new interim president from among themselves, who will serve until the general elections set for April 12. The political landscape remains turbulent, with many citizens expressing frustration over their leaders' inability to address critical issues like crime and corruption effectively. The recent ousting of Jeri, who had only been in power since October, illuminates the precariousness of political authority in Peru, as noted by Reuters and Le Monde.