Peru's Interim President Faces Removal Calls Over Secret Chinese Business Meetings
Peru's interim President José Jerí is confronting intense scrutiny and mounting demands for his removal following revelations of unregistered meetings with two Chinese business owners. The clandestine encounters have sparked a criminal investigation and deepened the political crisis in a nation already grappling with prolonged instability.
Congressional Oversight and Denials
Jerí appeared before a congressional oversight committee on Wednesday to address the allegations, which centre on his failure to log official meetings as required by Peruvian law. The interim leader, who assumed power in October after Congress ousted President Dina Boluarte in a rapid overnight impeachment, has firmly denied any wrongdoing.
In a televised interview with Peruvian station América on Tuesday, Jerí rejected calls for his resignation, characterising the opposition's actions as a "destabilising" manoeuvre aimed at influencing the upcoming general election scheduled for April 12.
Details of the Controversial Encounters
The president explained that between late December and early January, he met with business owner Yang Zhihua at a restaurant and later at a wholesale store, claiming he wanted to eat Chinese food and purchase candy respectively. However, his presence at the restaurant on the evening of December 26, with his head covered by a hood and carrying a bag, raised significant suspicions among opposition figures about potential irregularities.
Yang, whom Jerí refers to as "Johnny," owns both establishments but also secured a concession in 2023 to construct a hydroelectric plant in the Andes, a project he has yet to deliver. More troublingly, Jerí indicated he was unaware of the background of another Chinese business owner, Ji Wu Xiaodong, who entered the presidential palace on three separate occasions.
Ji Wu is currently under house arrest and prohibited from leaving his home due to an investigation into his alleged involvement with a criminal organisation engaged in illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest.
Contradictory Explanations and Official Response
Jerí maintained that the meetings were intended to coordinate Peruvian-Chinese Friendship Day on February 1, acknowledging China's decade-long status as Peru's top trading partner. He claimed Ji Wu was merely "serving food" at the restaurant and remained silent during palace visits because "he doesn't speak much Spanish."
This explanation appears contradictory, as Ji Wu is listed as a registered Chinese-to-Spanish translator in Peru's ministry of foreign affairs. Earlier this week, Peru's attorney general's office announced it has launched a preliminary investigation against Jerí for the alleged crimes of influence peddling and illegal lobbying.
The Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday that the preliminary investigation remains "confidential." Jerí has sent a letter to Attorney General Tomás Gálvez expressing his "willingness to cooperate" with the investigation and to provide "statements and clarifications as needed," according to a copy distributed to international press by the presidential office.
Broader Political Context
This crisis represents the latest chapter in Peru's prolonged political collapse, a country that has witnessed seven presidents since 2016. The nation is preparing to hold a general election amid widespread public outcry over a surge in violent crime, adding further complexity to an already volatile political landscape.
The allegations against Jerí have intensified scrutiny of political conduct and transparency standards within Peruvian governance, raising fundamental questions about accountability during this interim administration period.
