Bolarte replaced impeached President Pedro Castillo in a country where expulsions due to “moral incompetence” are commonplace.
Peruvian President Dina Bolarte has avoided the latest attempt to impeach her on corruption charges related to a collection of luxury Rolexes and jewelry that experts estimate to be worth nearly $500,000.
Lawmakers twice on Thursday rejected a motion to table Boulard's impeachment. The first proposal was rejected by a vote of 49-33, with 12 abstentions, and the second proposal was rejected by an even larger margin, 59-32, with 11 abstentions.
Efforts to impeach leaders have become increasingly common in the Latin American country, which has had six presidents since 2018. Peru's constitution allows impeachment proceedings to be based on a vague “moral incapacity” clause that does not require proof of legal wrongdoing. Impeachment requires just 87 affirmative votes from the 130-member chamber.
Congress has already rejected two motions to remove Bolarte from office. Bolarte was vice president when his predecessor, Pedro Castillo, tried to dissolve Congress by decree in December 2022. Mr. Bolarte was subsequently arrested and impeached.
Mr. Boulard quickly took office as president amidst a whirlwind of events. She, in turn, faced an immediate outcry from former President Castillo's supporters who said he had been unfairly targeted by Congress.
Castillo, a schoolteacher from indigenous communities that make up almost a third of Peru's 31 million people, took office in July 2021. He faced three impeachment attempts before attempting to dissolve Parliament in 2022.
Human rights watchdogs said corruption and government repression have worsened since Castillo's arrest.
Bolarte initially said he would urge Congress to hold an early presidential election, but Congress has since rejected at least five attempts to move the vote forward. Mr. Boularte then reversed his position and said he would remain prime minister until the end of his five-year term.
Bolarte also labeled some demonstrators “terrorists” and led a massive crackdown.
Amnesty International said the killing of 49 civilians by government forces following Castillo's arrest could amount to extrajudicial killings. Bolarte continues to face constitutional claims over the government's response.
ongoing investigation
According to an Ipsos Peru poll conducted in March, both Congress and Bolarte have a mere 9% public approval rating.
Nevertheless, Congress voted on Wednesday for Mr Bolarte's third resignation in 16 months, after nearly a third of his government's ministers resigned following a police raid on Mr Bolarte's residence over the weekend. approved the cabinet.
This week, law enforcement officials widened their investigation into allegations of “illicit enrichment” to focus on Bolarte's luxury Rolex watch, as well as bank deposits of “unknown origin” and other jewelry, including a valuable Cartier bracelet. included. Before becoming president, Bolarte earned about $1,000 a month as a member of his cabinet.
The popular YouTube political show “La Encerrona” examined thousands of photos of Bolarte and reported in March that he was wearing a number of Rolex watches worth between $14,000 and $25,000. As soon as this was discovered, an investigation began.
Prosecutors and police arrived at Mr. Bolarte's home near midnight Friday and executed a search warrant.
Boulart has denied all wrongdoing. Her defense asked her to give her testimony on Friday, citing the “political turmoil” the case has caused.