Peru: the president heard by the courts in the context of “Rolexgate”

Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: JOSH EDELSON / AFP 10:44 p.m., April 5, 2024

Peru's President Dina Boluarte was questioned Friday by the public prosecutor as part of an investigation into alleged "illicit enrichment", a scandal involving luxury watches and jewelry that is weakening her government. The interrogation lasted five and a half hours and Dina Boluarte left the prosecutor's office without making a statement to the press.

Dina Boluarte cannot be tried before July 2026, when her mandate ends

The prosecution had ordered the 61-year-old president to bring during this summons the valuable objects that she would not have declared in her assets when she took office in December 2022. The scandal, baptized by the press " Rolexgate", broke out in mid-March, when a news site published photos showing Dina Boluarte wearing different luxury watches while she was in government between 2021 and 2022. Her home and office were searched on March 30 , but no watch was found.

Dina Boluarte assured that she had “clean hands” and only owned one watch, an older model purchased with her savings. On Tuesday, Attorney General Juan Villena announced that the investigation now also focused on jewelry, including a bracelet worth $56,000, and bank deposits of some $270,000 between 2021 and 2022. In the wake of the searches, six of the eighteen ministers in his government announced their resignations and were immediately replaced.

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Peru: the standoff continues between the president and the demonstrators

On Wednesday, his government, the third in 16 months, obtained the confidence of Parliament, after the departure in early March of Prime Minister Alberto Otarola, targeted by an investigation for influence peddling. Under the Constitution, in the event of prosecution, Dina Boluarte cannot be tried before July 2026, the date of the end of her mandate. Several dozen supporters, but also detractors, gathered near the prosecution during his appearance. “Dina resists, Dina, you are not alone” protesters chanted, while others shouted: “Dina, prison is waiting for you”.

Dina Boluarte is also the subject of an investigation for "genocide, aggravated homicide and serious injury" after the death of more than fifty people during the two months of social unrest which accompanied her accession to the head of Peru. She became president after the impeachment in early December 2022 and the arrest of left-wing head of state Pedro Castillo, of whom she was vice-president. Since coming to power, she has been the subject of four impeachment proceedings, the last two this week. None were admitted to debate by the unicameral Parliament dominated by the right and the far right.