Dina Boluarte is 1 of the most unpopular leaders in the world.Source – Wikimedia Commons. licence – Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported. Author – Presidentia de la República del Perú
From an historical breakthrough to national disappointment, the first female to lead Peru rapidly became a symbol of the fall of assurance in power. Violent suppression of protests, the usage of troops against citizens, the affair with luxury watches and the violation of constitutional procedures – Dina Boluarte's governments brought Peru a deepening crisis of democracy. Her presidency is simply a series of controversy that made her 1 of the most hated leaders in the region.
Dina Boluarte's taking office was the consequence of the abrupt fall of Pedro Castillo, the left-wing native president, with whom she co-founded a tandem of power as vice president. Although she was not a prime figure, she was the 1 who, according to the Constitution of Peru, took power after Castillo failed to solve the parliament itself. In a country in political chaos, Boluarte became head of state overnight, even though she had repeatedly declared her loyalty to the dismissed president. This takeover of power without a social mandate and without a clear political background has been controversial from the start. Her presidency began in an atmosphere of uncertainty and tensions, which over time only grew.
A communicative That Repeats
Peruvians of indigenous origin face economical exclusion, marginalisation and utmost force of services.Source – Wikimedia Commons. licence – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Aike 4.0 International. Author – QM Keen
To realize the anger of Peruvians towards Boluarte, you request to look at the historical background. Peru has struggled for decades with chronic political instability – from the dictatorship of Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s, through the fight against the partisan Light Road to the wave of presidents accused of corruption. Since 2016, no president of Peru has completed his word of office. Castillo, the predecessor of Boluarte, was removed after an unsuccessful effort to "autogolpe" (self-solve parliament), and his arrest sparked a wave of protests. Boluarte, so far his vice president, not only did she not effort reconciliation but decided to brutally suppress resistance. Protests broke out especially among the indigenous peoples of the mediocre Andes regions who demanded fresh elections and the release of Castillo. The Boluarte government responded with unprecedented brutality. The military and police utilized sharp ammunition, killing over 60 people, including minors. Amnesty global reports point to a "systematic usage of deadly force" with a clear racial and class mark against marginalised communities. alternatively of seeking dialogue, Boluarte allied with right-wing Congress, alienating a large condition of society. Its silence towards the victims and deficiency of action for reconciliation deepened the gap between government and citizens. The decision to suppress protests has not only undermined her legitimacy but has made her a symbol of the state's force against its own citizens. In the eyes of many Peruvians, Boluarte became not a president, but a tyrant who chose strength alternatively of justice.
Watches, secrets and constitutional chaos
The presidency of Boluarte was marked by scandals that exposed her detachment from reality. In 2024, the Rolexgate scandal broke out erstwhile the media noticed that the president was wearing luxury watches whose value far exceeds her authoritative income. Translations of “friend loans” have not convinced the public, and the prosecution has launched an investigation into possible proceeds trading. In March 2024, officers searched her house, and Buluarte's brother and lawyer were arrested for suspected corruption. The investigation besides showed that the president had at least 15 luxury watches, whose origins and values she could not indicate. More than a million salt deposits were besides discovered, or about PLN 1.02 million, into her account without a clear origin of transfers. Another scandal afraid Boluarte's mysterious absence in June 2023 erstwhile she unexpectedly disappeared from public life. In time it turned out that she had had a secret nose plastic surgery, allegedly due to “respirational difficulty”. She did not inform legislature of her absence or appoint an alternate who should temporarily exercise power during her absence. This behaviour was considered a violation of constitutional rules. Oil was added to the fire by the doctor conducting the procedure, who claimed that he had not received full payment for its execution, and the funds sent were of unclear origin. These scandals, though seemingly trivial about the tragedy of protests, have become a symbol of the arrogance of the power of Boluarte. In a country where many citizens conflict with poverty, luxury watches and president's secrets were like a slap on the face of society.
The facade of stability, the ruins of democracy
On the global stage, Boluarte promotes Peru as a unchangeable country with a dynamically developing economy. At the Asia-Pacific economical Cooperation summit in 2024, she emphasized her merits: the 3% GDP growth, low inflation and clear rules for investors. She spoke of "actions for the well-being of citizens" and "full commitment to the implementation of Putrajay's 2040 vision", which envisages creating an open, dynamic and resilient Asian-Pacific community by 2040 through free trade, innovation, digitalisation and sustainable economical growth.
In reality, however, Peru is simply a façade country, plunged into corruption and distrust. According to the polls, 95% of citizens do not support a president who does not have her own organization or permanent backdrop in Congress. Her support is based on fragile alliances with the right, which could collapse at any time. Her word of office ends in July 2026, but rising calls for resignation propose that she may not last until then. Peru remains a divided country, where institutions are fragile and trust in power barely exists, which makes its presidency a symbol of the national tragedy.
Veronica STRAIN
