Peru's President Dina Boluarte Escapes Impeachment Amid Rolex Scandal

Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has evaded impeachment proceedings following the dismissal of a congressional investigation linked to her alleged acceptance of Rolex watches as bribes.

A congressional subcommittee in Peru has decided against pursuing an investigation into President Dina Boluarte regarding claims that she had accepted luxury Rolex watches as bribes, effectively shielding her from impeachment for now. This development comes despite Boluarte's markedly low approval ratings, which are in single digits, and the looming possibility that she may face charges once she relinquishes her office next year, thereby losing her presidential immunity.

The controversial inquiry, referred to as "Rolexgate," involved a police raid on Boluarte's residence in March 2024, where authorities sought more than a dozen lavish watches that she allegedly failed to declare. This investigation was initiated after journalists highlighted the expensive watches she wore at public appearances. The president's request for additional time to respond to a subpoena for proof of purchase of the watches was denied, culminating in the police raid of both her home and the government palace itself.

The Peruvian government previously labeled this raid as "disproportionate and unconstitutional." Boluarte has consistently asserted her integrity, claiming that she entered office "with clean hands" and intends to leave in the same manner, maintaining that her Rolex was simply an old item she purchased with savings from her work starting at age 18.

In addition to the Rolex scandal, Boluarte is also under investigation for an unannounced two-week absence in 2023, during which she underwent nose surgery without delegating her presidential responsibilities. Boluarte assumed the presidency after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was impeached for attempting to dissolve Congress and ruling by decree, which resulted in violent protests and numerous fatalities. The next presidential and legislative elections in Peru are anticipated for April 2026.