LETTER FROM CUZCO
Dina Boluarte has thick skin. Neither the fifty deaths during the protest movement in favor of new elections, between December 2022 and March 2023, nor the opening of an investigation on January 9, 2023 for “genocide, aggravated homicide and serious injuries”, nor the more than 80 % of unfavorable opinions since she took office on December 7, 2022, after the dismissal of Pedro Castillo (left), have, until now, got the better of the interim president of Peru.
But since March 14 and the revelations of the independent online media La Encerrona on the wearing of luxury watches and their mysterious origin, Dina Boluarte, propelled president thanks to the failed coup d’état of her predecessor, could see her seat wobble.
She is suspected of having worn an entire collection of luxury watches – around fifteen in total – undeclared while she was both minister of social inclusion and vice-president, between July 2021 and December 2022. Among them , at least one eighteen-carat steel and rose gold Rolex, set with diamonds and estimated at 19,000 dollars (approximately 17,565 euros). Three other Rolexes were seen on his wrist by the media who, since then, have been tracking down all the archive images of his interventions.
The public prosecutor opened an investigation for suspicion of “illicit enrichment” and “failure to declare assets”, the declaration of assets and property being an obligation to which all civil servants must comply. If Dina Boluarte is currently protected by her presidential immunity, Congress could pass a motion of censure against her.
Such an initiative was also driven by his former political camp, Peru Libre (left), and should be presented these days before the only parliamentary chamber. However, there is no indication that such a procedure will succeed, as Dina Boluarte continues to benefit from support within the chamber. Some political commentators also mock the lukewarmness of Congress, recalling that the latter – dominated by the right and the extreme right – would have in the past ousted Pedro Castillo for less than that.
Curiosity of investigative journalists
Dina Boluarte first tried to put out the fire by asserting that all this was a private matter, then defended herself by arguing that she had acquired these watches a long time ago – implying, before the taking office as vice-president.
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