LETTER FROM CUZCO

Dina Boluarte has a thick skin. Neither the 50 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 injury," nor the more than 80% unfavorable opinion rating since she took office on December 7, 2022, after the impeachment of Pedro Castillo (left), have, so far, gotten the better of Peru's interim president.

But since the March 14 revelations of the independent online media La Encerrona about her wearing luxury watches of mysterious origin, Boluarte – propelled to the presidency by her predecessor's failed coup d'état – could see her position put in jeopardy.

She is suspected of having worn an entire collection of undeclared luxury watches – about 15 in all – while she was minister of social inclusion and vice president, between July 2021 and December 2022. Among them, at least one 18-carat steel and rose gold Rolex, set with diamonds and valued at $19,000 (around €17,565). The media has spotted three other Rolexes on her wrist, and they have since tracked down all archive images of her speeches.

The public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into suspicions of "illicit enrichment" and "omission of declaration of assets," since the declaration of assets and property is an obligation to all civil servants. Although Boluarte is currently protected by her presidential immunity, Congress could pass a vote of no confidence.

The move has been instigated by her former political camp, Peru Libre (left), and is expected to be presented to the parliamentary chamber in the next few days. Nothing indicates, however, that such a procedure will succeed, as Boluarte continues to enjoy support within the chamber. Some political commentators mock the lack of ambition from Congress, pointing out that – dominated by the right and extreme right – it would once have ousted Pedro Castillo for less.

Boluarte initially tried to put out the fire by claiming that all this was a private matter and later argued that she had acquired the watches a long time ago – by which she meant before taking up her position as vice president.

"Everything I own is the fruit of my efforts and my work. (...) I entered the government palace with clean hands and will leave with clean hands, as I promised," she told the press on March 18. She added: "There's no place for corruption in my DNA," maintaining that she has worked since she was 18 to pay her own way.

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