Peru Congress ousts José Jeri over alleged illegal lobbying tied to Chinese businessman

19 February 2026 , 10:09

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Peru Congress ousts José Jeri over alleged illegal lobbying tied to Chinese businessman

Peru’s Congress voted to remove interim President José Jeri after prosecutors opened a corruption probe into undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang.

Lawmakers cited possible illegal lobbying tied to Yang’s state concessions, while local reports linked another attendee to a timber-trafficking network.

The scandal broke after video of the meetings was leaked, showing Jeri arriving late at night to a restaurant in December 2025 with a hood pulled over his head, and again in January wearing sunglasses.

Jeri denied wrongdoing, saying the late-night meetings were about organizing a cultural event.

Emma Davis

Deputy Editor