Peru: Six Ministers Resignations for ‘Rolexgate’ · Global Voices

Their resignation was announced by six of his government’s 18 ministers amid the investigation against President Dina Bolwarte for unfair enrichment, which is associated with clocks that she allegedly holds. “I am leaving because I asked her and Mrs (Bolowarte) accepted,” said Interior Minister Victor Torres coming out of the presidential palace after the cabinet meeting. He was in this position since 21 November and invoked “family problems”. A few hours later, ministers responsible for Education, Women, Rural Development, Production and Foreign Trade also announced their resignations without justifying them. This wave of resignations occurred on the eve of the vote to give a vote of confidence, tomorrow, Wednesday, by parliament to new Prime Minister Gustavo Adriansen and his government. Adriansen, a 57-year-old centre-right diplomat, replaced Alberto Otarola, at whose expense an investigation is being conducted into unfair influence. Within the night, President Dina Bolwarte appointed six new ministers to replace the resignations. The secession of one third of the government team also occurred two days after the search at Bolwarte’s residence and the presidential office by about 40 policemen and judges, who were searching for Rolex watches that the president is suspected of not mentioning in her property statement. The scandal broke out on March 15, when a local information site released a series of photographs, in which Bolwarte was depicted wearing various luxury watches while in government in 2021 and 2022. The new Prime Minister described this investigation as “an intolerable insult to the dignity of the presidency of the Republic and the nation it represents.” No Rolex Police who, along with the prosecution, conducted the surprise investigations under the “Rolexgate”, were theoretically directed by Minister Victor Torres. According to media, some of his government had asked him to depose the colonel who led operations. After the investigations carried out on Saturday, the prosecution called on Bolwarte to display the watches in her possession on Friday, when she has been called before her. The president’s defense claims that the police found some watches during operations at the government mansion, but no Rolex. The opposition calls for the president to be removed, but does not have a majority in Congress, which is controlled by the parties of the right. “If Mrs (Bolowarte) leaves, Peru will sink,” the resigning Interior Minister commented. “The lady has nothing to hide. I leave peacefully, with my hands clean,” Victor Torres added. New Interior Minister Walter Ortis Acosta is a retired police general and has been the first in command in the fight against organised crime. Dina Bolwarte, 61, also assured that she has “clean hands” and has nothing but a watch. He became president after the deposed, early December 2022 and the arrest of the left-wing head of the State Pedro Castillo, whose vice president was. At her expense there is already an investigation into “genocide, manslaughter with aggravating conditions and causing serious injuries” after the death of more than 50 people during the two months of social unrest that accompanied the rise of the head of the state. If persecution is brought against her, the President of Peru will not be able, under the Constitution, to be tried before July 2026, when her term of office expires.