The South American nation of Peru is in the grips of another political crisis after six members of President Dina Boularte’s cabinet abruptly resigned Monday after a police raid of her home.
Boularte is under investigation for allegedly acquiring a set of luxury watches without disclosing them as part of her assets. Police raided the president’s home and office last Friday to search for the luxury watches. Boularte has denied she illicitly obtained the watches.
Interior Minister Victor Torres was the first to resign Monday, followed by the ministers of education and women’s issues. The ministers of production, foreign trade and agriculture stepped down hours later. Torres’ portfolio included overseeing the national police, which conducted the raid on Boularte’s home and office.
Boularte swore in replacements for the six departed ministers Monday night.
The chaos comes ahead of a parliamentary vote to approve Bolarte’s choice for prime minister. The Associated Press is reporting that lawmakers have circulated a resolution to remove her from office on the grounds of “permanent moral incapacity.”
Bolarte is a former vice president who ascended to the top job in December 2022 after former President Pedro Castillo was forced from office and arrested on allegations of corruption and rebellion. She is Peru’s sixth president in six years.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse.
