Peru's Congress has voted to remove President Dina Boluarte from office, hours after a late-night session was called to debate her impeachment.
An overwhelming majority of lawmakers from across the political spectrum approved her ousting on grounds of 'permanent moral incapacity'.
In an address on national television following the vote, Boluarte questioned the implications it would have on the stability of Peru's democracy.
One of the world's most unpopular leaders, with an approval rating of 2-4%, Boluarte's tenure has been plagued by frequent protests, scandals, and investigations, as well as a surge in gang violence.
Anti-government protests have escalated in recent months amid soaring crime, with renewed anger following a recent shooting at a concert in the capital, Lima.
A total of 122 out of 130 lawmakers voted for Boluarte's removal early on Friday, following votes resoundingly in favour of four motions of impeachment.
Congress leader Jose Jeri was sworn in as interim president early on Friday. Peru does not currently have a vice-president.
Boluarte did not appear before Congress for the overnight hearing. A crowd of protesters brandishing Peruvian flags outside the Congress building erupted in cheers after the vote was declared.
'At all times I have called for unity,' she told Peruvians after being removed, adding: 'In this context, I had not thought of myself but of the more than 34 million Peruvians who deserve better.'
Protests have punctuated the 63-year-old leader's less than three years in office, which followed the impeachment and imprisonment of her predecessor, Pedro Castillo.
Her presidency was overshadowed by several investigations, including a corruption inquiry dubbed 'Rolexgate' over allegations she accepted Rolex watches as bribes. Another probe examined whether she had abandoned her post during a medical absence.
In July, her decision to double her salary to almost 35 times that of the monthly minimum wage in Peru sparked backlash from the public.
Thursday night's impeachment was part of ongoing political instability, with Congress members from both parties expressing a desire to move forward without Boluarte.
Boluarte rose to power in December 2022, following the impeachment of former President Castillo, and she is now the sixth leader of Peru since 2018.
The upheaval continues as Peru grapples with political fragility, social unrest, and increasing crime rates.
