Peru: Resignation of Interior Minister amid ‘Rolex-gate’

His Interior Minister submitted his resignation after the scandal of illegal enrichment with the country’s president. Amid the investigation against President Dina Bolwarte for alleged illegal enrichment, a case related to Rolex watches in her possession, Peruvian Interior Minister Victor Torres submitted his resignation Monday (01.04.2024). “I leave because I asked for it” and the president “accepted it,” said Mr Torres leaving the presidential palace, where the cabinet met. Torres invoked “family problems”, in office from 21 November, Police along with the prosecution proceeded after midnight Friday to Saturday in investigations at Bolwarte’s house and her office under the “Rolex-gate” which theoretically was under Torres’ supervision. According to Peruvian press reports, several in the government demanded that the police officer who led the surprise investigations be removed. The government records its first loss in the Rolex scandal, which broke out after Peruvian news website began publishing from 15 March a series of photographs depicting the head of state wearing various expensive watches in 2021 and 2022, while being a member of the government. If the president resigns, “Peruña will sink”, the Interior Minister commented on the opposition demand, which has no majority in Congress, Mrs. Bolwarte to leave office. “The lady has nothing to hide. I leave with a quiet conscience” and “clean hands”, Victor Torres even assured. Following the investigations, during which no Rolex was found, the prosecution demanded that the president present her watches when she came to testify on Friday, April 5. Mrs Bolwarte’s defence reported on Saturday that the police found some watches in the investigation she conducted in the presidency, but not Rolex.