Peruvian President Stands Firm Amid Scandal

Peruvian President José Gerry has announced this week that he will not resign, despite ongoing controversy surrounding undisclosed meetings with Chinese businessmen, a situation referred to as “Chifagate.”

“If I had something to hide, I would resign. I’ve been truthful to the nation and haven’t committed any illegal acts. I refuse to let anyone misrepresent me. Therefore, I will voluntarily cooperate with the oversight committee and meet with the prosecutor’s office,” Gerry mentioned during an interview with Peru’s Canal N.

He expressed that the current scandal feels like an orchestrated attack on the presidency, diverting attention away from his past mistakes, which he admits to, and interfering with an electoral process that should be funded and conducted fairly.

Gerry, who became the eighth president of Peru in the last decade, assumed office in October 2025 after the impeachment of his predecessor, Dina Bolarte, which stemmed from her “persistent moral incompetence.” Prior to this, Gerry held the position of Speaker of Parliament, stepping into the presidency after Bolarte’s removal.

Bolarte, who herself had been Vice President under Pedro Castillo, was impeached following a failed coup and subsequent arrest of Castillo. He is currently set to receive an 11-year prison sentence in November 2025.

In the past few weeks, Gerry has found himself at the center of the Chifagate scandal, which recently emerged when it was reported that he had a clandestine late-night meeting with Chinese businessman Yang Zhihua in a local Chinese-Peruvian restaurant called Chifa. Yang is reportedly linked to Nicanor Bolarte, Dina Bolarte’s brother, who is facing corruption investigations and owns the restaurant where the meeting took place.

Video footage from various media outlets showed Gerry exiting a government vehicle and entering the restaurant, accompanied by security. This meeting was not logged in the presidential office, raising concerns about transparency and potential conflicts of interest revolving around Gerry and the businessman, particularly since local reports suggested they were discussing a proposed $30 million contract to install security cameras on public transit buses.

Gerry confirmed to the press that this meeting was not documented by the presidential palace, but he denied any wrong intentions, stating it was simply to plan for the upcoming “Peru-China Friendship Day.” Yang also refuted claims that he sought favors during their discussion, asserting that any remarks suggesting favoritism or corruption were mischaracterizations.

In light of the controversy, Gerry issued a public apology last week in a pre-recorded video, disclosing that he entered the restaurant wearing a hood, which understandably led to speculation about his actions and recognizing his misstep.

Shortly after this video was released, reports surfaced that Ji Wu Xiaodong, another Chinese national, had met Gerry three times at the Presidential Palace despite being under house arrest due to ties with an illegal logging group.

This week, the Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office initiated a preliminary investigation into Gerry’s interactions with his Chinese associates. These events also led the Peruvian parliament to propose three motions of censure against him.

Gerry downplayed the situation concerning his encounter with Ji, suggesting that Ji claimed to have a limited understanding of Spanish. However, records reportedly contradict this, showing that Ji is fluent in the language and has worked as a certified translator.

The presidential elections in Peru are scheduled for April 12th, followed by a possible run-off on June 7th. Gerry’s term is set to conclude on July 28, after which he will be succeeded by the newly elected president. Notably, Gerry has decided not to run for re-election.

In the interview, Gerry acknowledged holding these meetings was a mistake, but he believes some individuals are trying to exploit the situation to complicate the upcoming electoral process.

He also mentioned he has not had any contact with Yang Zhihua since the scandal became public, suggesting that there have been attempts to undermine his presidency.

“I’ve dined at Chinese restaurants on several occasions. It’s quite normal for me to go there to eat,” Gerry stated.