Ten Years, eight presidents: Peru’s persistent cycle of political instability
Over the past decade, Peru has undergone an exceptional period of political volatility, marked by the succession of eight presidents in roughly ten years.
Beginning with the end of Ollanta Humala’s administration in 2016, the country entered a phase defined not by regular democratic continuity but by repeated institutional disruptions. Since then, leadership has passed through Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, Francisco Sagasti, Pedro Castillo, Dina Boluarte, and José Jerí.
The transition from Humala to Kuczynski in 2016 initially followed a standard electoral process, yet it also marked the beginning of a more fragmented political era. Kuczynski governed with a hostile Congress, which repeatedly sought his removal. Mounting pressure linked to corruption allegations ultimately led to his resignation in March 2018, setting a precedent for executive vulnerability under congressional scrutiny.
His successor, Vizcarra, inherited both the presidency and the institutional conflict. His decision to dissolve Congress in 2019, though constitutional, intensified political polarisation. In November 2020, Congress removed him on grounds of “moral incapacity”, a constitutional provision that has since become central to Peru’s instability. This mechanism, broadly defined and politically contested, has enabled repeated presidential removals without the need for criminal conviction.
The short-lived presidency of Merino, lasting only five days, highlighted the limits of congressional legitimacy when faced with public opposition. Mass protests forced his resignation, leading Congress to appoint Sagasti as a transitional president. Sagasti’s administration restored a degree of stability, overseeing elections and completing a full interim mandate, which remains an exception in an otherwise turbulent decade.
The election of Castillo in 2021 once again raised expectations of political renewal. However, his presidency was characterised by persistent confrontation with Congress, frequent cabinet changes, and ongoing investigations. The crisis culminated in December 2022, when Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress and was immediately removed from office. His vice-president, Boluarte, assumed power, but her tenure was also marked by protests, governance challenges, and eventual removal by Congress in 2025.
The appointment of Jerí as interim president in 2025 continued the pattern of short-lived administrations. His removal in early 2026, following allegations of misconduct, reinforced the perception of systemic instability rather than isolated crises. Across these transitions, a consistent pattern emerges: presidents rarely complete their mandates, and leadership changes are driven more by institutional confrontation than by electoral cycles.
Several structural factors explain this phenomenon. Peru’s fragmented party system weakens executive support in Congress, while the constitutional provision of “moral incapacity” provides a flexible tool for removal. Additionally, corruption investigations have affected multiple administrations, further eroding public trust. These conditions create a political environment in which governance is often secondary to survival.
As Peru approaches new general elections, the primary expectation is not necessarily political transformation but institutional stabilisation. The key challenge for future leadership will be to establish a functional relationship between the executive and legislative branches. Without reforms that clarify constitutional ambiguities and strengthen party systems, the cycle observed over the past decade is likely to persist, regardless of electoral outcomes.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
