Peru just demonstrated something that might shock American observers: a country where lawmakers actually remove presidents who fail to protect their citizens from violent crime.
Story Snapshot
- Peru’s Congress ousted President Dina Boluarte in October 2025 after crime rates surged under her leadership
- This marks Peru’s third presidential removal in just three years, establishing a pattern of accountability for government failures
- The ouster was directly triggered by public outrage over violent robberies and organized crime that the administration couldn’t control
- Peru’s swift action contrasts sharply with other democracies where leaders face no consequences for rising crime rates
When Crime Becomes a Political Death Sentence
Dina Boluarte discovered what happens when a government promises security but delivers chaos instead. After inheriting the presidency in December 2022 following Pedro Castillo’s dramatic impeachment, she faced an impossible task: restoring order in a nation plagued by violent crime. The Peruvian Congress didn’t give her points for effort. When urban centers, particularly Lima, saw escalating violent robberies and organized criminal activity throughout 2023 and 2024, lawmakers decided accountability mattered more than political stability.
The mathematics of Peruvian politics proved brutally simple. Rising crime plus government inaction equals removal from office. Boluarte joined an exclusive club that now includes three Peruvian presidents ousted within three years, each failing to meet basic expectations of governance. This isn’t about partisan politics or ideological differences—it’s about results.
The Castillo Precedent Sets the Stage
Pedro Castillo’s bizarre attempt to dissolve Congress in December 2022 created the constitutional crisis that elevated Boluarte to power. His imprisonment for this anti-democratic move should have served as a warning about the consequences of institutional failure in Peru. Instead, it established a new normal where presidents face swift removal when they threaten democratic norms or fail basic governance functions. Castillo’s dramatic exit wasn’t an anomaly—it was a preview.
Boluarte inherited not just the presidency but also the expectation that she would restore both democratic legitimacy and public safety. Her administration’s inability to address the crime surge that followed proved that good intentions cannot substitute for effective governance. The Peruvian people had already endured one failed presidency; they weren’t willing to tolerate another.
Democracy Through Accountability
The speed of Boluarte’s removal reflects something remarkable about Peruvian democracy: it still functions as intended. When leaders fail to protect citizens, they face consequences. This stands in stark contrast to other nations where rising crime rates become normalized and leaders deflect responsibility without facing removal. Peru’s Congress demonstrated that democratic institutions can respond decisively to public safety failures.
Critics argue that frequent presidential removals destabilize democratic institutions, but Peru’s experience suggests the opposite. The threat of removal creates powerful incentives for presidents to address public safety seriously rather than treating it as a secondary concern. When the cost of failure includes losing power, leaders tend to prioritize results over rhetoric.
Lessons for Democratic Governance Worldwide
Peru’s willingness to remove ineffective presidents offers a master class in democratic accountability that other nations should study carefully. The country demonstrates that democracy doesn’t require tolerating failed leadership in the name of stability. Sometimes the most stabilizing action involves removing leaders who cannot fulfill basic governmental responsibilities like protecting citizens from violent crime.
The broader implications extend beyond Peru’s borders. As democracies worldwide grapple with rising crime rates and public dissatisfaction with ineffective governance, Peru’s approach provides a template for maintaining democratic legitimacy through accountability. The message resonates clearly: democratic institutions must deliver results, not just process.
Sources:
Peru ousts unpopular president blamed for failing to stem crime – NBC Right Now
