Lima, Feb 16 (NA) — Peru's interim president, José Jerí, denied any wrongdoing during his tenure and assured he can hold office despite two investigations against him, a day before a vote of no confidence in Congress. The vote comes as Peru prepares for presidential and legislative elections on April 12. "I have not committed any crime. I have the full moral capacity to exercise the presidency of the Republic," Jerí said in a television interview on Sunday night, reported by RFI, accessed by the Argentine News Agency. The parliament, controlled by the right, will meet this Tuesday in an extraordinary session to debate a potential dismissal after gathering the 78 necessary signatures to convene the plenary session in recess. Congressman Rosángela Jerí, from We Are Peru—a small right-wing party—faces this week a motion of censure and dismissal that has caused a rare fracture: her conservative allies left her alone, and the initiative advances thanks to the support of minority leftist blocs. The motion accuses her, at 39 years old, of "misconduct and lack of suitability" to hold the parliamentary position. Additionally, the Public Ministry opened a preliminary investigation on Friday for Jerí's alleged involvement in the hiring of nine women for his government team. Last January, another case had already been initiated against him for alleged "influence trafficking and illegal sponsorship of interests," after a covert meeting with a Chinese businessman linked to state business dealings emerged. The seventh Peruvian president since 2016, Jerí has been leading a country marked by chronic political instability since October 10. Jerí was head of Congress when he replaced Dina Boluarte in October, whom the legislative body dismissed amidst massive protests due to a wave of insecurity and extortion in Lima and other regions of the country. His term ends on July 28. In case of dismissal, the parliament will have to elect a new head of Congress who will automatically assume the interim presidency of Peru.
