Dina Boluarte testifies before the Prosecutor’s Office about “Rolexgate” in Peru: why are they investigating her and what could happen?

Peru is experiencing a new chapter in its long political crisis with President Dina Boluarte in the eye of the storm due to an investigation initiated by her for alleged illicit enrichment requests for resignation in Parliament and protests against his unpopular government, in what many are already calling Rolexgate

The president, a 61-year-old lawyer, She was questioned this Friday by the attorney general’s office in a session closed to the public, the Public Prosecutor confirmed this in a statement. The Prosecutor’s Office building, located in the historic center of Lima, He was surrounded by bars, riot police and journalists.

Boluarte came to power in July 2021 as vice president and minister of President Pedro Castillo. In December 2022 she became president, succeeding Castillo. dismissed by Parliament and imprisoned while he was under investigation for corruption. Before 2021 it was a modest civil servant of an identity registration office.

The president does not have a parliamentary seat and has a negative image that exceeds 80%but to stay in power he has woven a series of agreements with various political groups who all have a majority in Parliament and which have made it possible to neutralize various attempts at his dismissal.

“He mortgaged his management a coalition of far-right parties“Alonso Cárdenas, professor of Political Science at the Antonio Ruíz de Montoya University, told the Associated Press.

Peru, what It has been governed by six presidents in six yearshas not yet recovered from the 2023 economic recession, suffers the worst dengue epidemic in its history and experiment an increase in crime.

Why is Boluarte under investigation?

Boluarte has been under investigation since mid-March by the Attorney General’s Office for the alleged charges crimes of illicit enrichment and failure to declare assets to the detriment of the State. The president presumably did not deliver luxury watchesjewelry or a $400,000 deposit into your income statement and goods that all officials are obliged to do.

Because of her privileges as president, she cannot be charged before a judge, like the rest of the citizens, even when investigators find justified reasons to do so.

How did the case break out?

The investigations began after local newspaper column “La Encerrona” released a report on March 14 that showed how Pres He has publicly worn several watches, most notably a Rolex brand. at least valued $14,000 which triples his monthly salary of $4,200.

Then other programs detected that Boluarte He wore at least two other watches of that brand AND a Cartier gold bracelet with diamonds worth over $54,000, as well as rings and necklaces. The law indicates that an official Jewelry whose price exceeds $2,791 must be declared.

President He did not explain how the expensive watches and jewelery came into his possession. He did not say whether they were purchased or given as gifts, he only admitted that he owns a Rolex which he says is from “yesterday” and which he acquired with the fruit of his labor.

How did the investigations proceed?

Earlier this week, prosecutors failed to question Boluarte nor observe the watches questioned in commissions frustrated by the president. On Good Friday, the Prosecutor and the police forced the lock on the door of the presidential house and entered in search of the luxury watches. an unprecedented event in the history of Peru.

A Rolex brand cardholder was found in the president’s home with a guarantee document that contained the code for a watch of that brand.

The presidential palace was then searched unsuccessfully, said Mateo Castañeda, the president’s lawyer.

The forced entry into his home was criticized by Boluarte, who called the procedure “illegal”.

What could happen if she were accused of illicit enrichment?

At the end of his research, The Prosecutor’s Office can present a constitutional appeal to Parliament which, after a process within a commission and a vote by legislators, could be ready to be sent before a judge as soon as the Boluarte government ends on 28 July 2026.

Meanwhile, the president may be preliminarily investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office, including raids, seizures, de-secrecy and tracking of your communications. The only thing that cannot be done during this period This is a preventive arrest.

What political effect might the investigation have?

Boluarte, whose unpopularity rose to 86% in March according to a poll by the Institute of Peruvian Studiesleads a government that is weak and increasingly dependent on Congress.

“It has no public management, the rejection is majority, citizens’ problems are very serious and scandals of this type such as that of the Rolex watches will continue to happen“, said Professor Cárdenas.

The day before the right-wing parties in Parliament They rejected two requests for Boluarte’s dismissal promoted by a bloc of left-wing forces that achieved no results the necessary 48 votes to move on to the debate.

That’s because Boluarte has been a key instrument for them remaining silent as lawmakers pass reforms that are slowly “dismantling democracy” to stay in power, Will Freeman, a Latin American studies researcher at the Council, told the AP , a non-profit research center.

“For them, Boluarte is just a puppet,” Freeman said. “He will be safe until and only until his protectors in Congress decide that he is still useful to them. And the moment the service ends, they will abandon it.”

To be removed, Boluarte would have to be questioned in Parliament or send her lawyer to represent her and the votes of 87 of the 130 deputies would be needed.