This Wednesday, April 3, the Congress of Peru gave its support, through the process known as a vote of confidence, to the new cabinet of President Dina Boluarte, in the midst of a scandal over the president's acquisition of undeclared Rolex watches. The president of the Council of Ministers, Gustavo Adrianzén, addressed the plenary session of Congress to ask for a vote of confidence, which would allow the cabinet to continue in office. In parallel, Congress reported that two vacancy motions (dismissal) have been presented against Boluarte, in the midst of “Rolexgate.”
With votes of 70 in favor, 38 against and 17 abstentions, the new Prime Minister of Peru, Gustavo Adrianzén, achieved this Wednesday, April 3, the simple majority necessary in the vote of confidence process in Congress, mandatory for each new Peruvian cabinet .
The support took place after a long debate in plenary, starring the scandal of watches and other luxury objects for which the country's president, Dina Boluarte, is being investigated.
In the middle of the scandal, Congress debated whether or not to grant its vote of confidence to the president's cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén.
In the midst of a new political crisis due to the 'Rolexgate' case, which involves Boluarte and after the six changes in the cabinet, Adrianzén addressed the unicameral Legislature with an extensive speech, to request the measure that would allow or not the Government team to continue in office.
We are going to apply a tough security policy
During his speech, Adrianzén announced new economic and security policies, which include the reinforcement of police deployment on the streets of the country. However, he did not refer to the scandal that is shaking the head of state in the so-called 'Rolexgate' case.
“We are going to apply a tough security policy that we hope its results can be seen in the shortest possible time. (…) We are not going to tolerate crime intimidating Peruvians and affecting our development. No national or foreign criminal is going to generate chaos and fear in our society,” said the Peruvian premier.
Adrianzén assumed the presidency of the Council of Ministers on March 6 and recently the president appointed a total of six new holders in the different Government portfolios.
The Peruvian Constitution establishes that, within the next 30 days from when the changes are applied, you must go to Congress to request a vote of confidence from parliamentarians. But given the current panorama, the challenge was enormous.
To obtain parliamentary authorization, Adrianzén needed a simple majority in the vote. .
The Peruvian Legislature is controlled by a majority of right-wing and far-right parties, supported by Boluarte, a leader who lacks her own bench.
During his speech at the venue, Adrianzén also called for the unity of his country, the political sectors and the Government institutions.
“Peru had a hard time maintaining and preserving its democratic institutions. It is our duty to defend and reinforce it, promoting peace, dialogue and mutual respect among Peruvians, without discrimination of any kind,” said the official, in statements reported by the local newspaper 'El Comercio'.
Furthermore, the prime minister defended that the new cabinet “represents the convergence and unity of the political forces that believe in democracy.”
A vote of confidence amid judicial investigations
The vote of confidence for Adrianzén in Congress occurs in the midst of a crisis unleashed by an investigation into the acquisition of several Rolex brand luxury watches that, according to authorities, Boluarte has not declared.
The attorney general of Peru assured last Tuesday, April 2, that the investigation into the president was expanded to include a $56,000 Cartier bracelet in her possession and 1.1 million soles (about $298,070.67) in bank deposits of ” unknown origin”.
When the controversy broke out, the Prosecutor's Office raided Boluarte's home and the Government Palace during the early hours of Friday to Saturday of Holy Week, as part of this investigation.
During a presentation before the Congressional Oversight Commission, the interim attorney general, Juan Carlos Villena, stressed that this investigation “is reserved,” but reported that on Monday, April 1, “it was decided to expand the factual framework of the accusation, no longer just for the three Rolex watches.”
According to judicial information replicated by Reuters and EFE, the deposits in Boluarte's bank accounts date from 2016 to 2022, before he was in charge of the country. Boluarte claimed that the bank accounts were shared accounts when she was president of a regional club and denied any links to corruption.
However, in his speech, Adrianzén stressed that “in circumstances like this is when we need to reaffirm democratic values and the unity of the institutions. Nothing should alter, nothing will alter the constitutional order and the direction of the country!”
Could 'Rolexgate' be the door to another government crisis in Peru?
Despite approving the new cabinet, the Peruvian Congress reported this Wednesday that two vacancy motions (dismissal) have been presented against President Dina Boluarte, for alleged “moral incapacity” to continue leading the head of State.
The requests, which were presented by legislators from left-wing and center parties, They propose that Boluarte be dismissed due to a “permanent moral incapacity” and, therefore, the vacancy of the Presidency be declared and the succession to the head of State as ordered by the Constitution is applied.
In the current Government, Boluarte does not have vice presidents, so, if he leaves office, this will have to be occupied by the president of Congress, who must immediately call general elections to carry out the change of government within a maximum period of eight months. .
Since 2018, Peru's governments have fallen to different crises, which has meant that since then the country has had six leaders. A difficult panorama, to which is added the complicated political situation of the current president, when she is investigated for alleged illicit enrichment.
Boluarte assumed the Presidency in 2022 after the dismissal of his predecessor, Pedro Castillo, for attempting to illegally close Congress.
The mandate of the first female president in the country's history has been marked by protests and repression, resulting in numerous deaths.
The head of state has denounced the raids on her home as an “abusive” act and stated her intention to complete her term of government until 2026.
However, Congress has already taken the first steps to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
Read alsoPolitical attack or corruption? The case of Dina Boluarte's Rolexes
With EFE, Reuters, AFP and local media
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