Survey Results Show Food and Culinary Pride Tops
"Politics Is Shame"... Recent Presidential Impeachment Crisis
A survey revealed that Peruvian citizens have a strong pride in their country's food and culinary culture. In contrast, the National Congress and government are viewed with shame.
The leading Peruvian daily newspaper El Comercio commissioned Datum, a prominent public opinion research institute in Peru, to conduct a survey from April 5 to 8, targeting 1,209 citizens aged 18 to 70 nationwide. The margin of error is ±2.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
The survey results showed that 95% of respondents expressed pride in Peruvian food and culinary culture, an overwhelming majority. This was followed by pride in dance and music (91%), history (79%), and arts and literature (77%).
On the other hand, 81% of respondents said they felt ashamed of the National Congress. High percentages also felt ashamed of the government (76%), political parties (75%), and anti-corruption policies (69%). Only 3 to 5% of respondents felt proud of the political sphere. National affection also dropped by 14 percentage points, from 92% in 2019 to 78% this year.
Peru has been experiencing a prolonged social crisis triggered by political turmoil, including a series of presidential impeachments. Recently, President Dina Boluarte (61), who took office after the impeachment of the previous president, is facing impeachment herself in less than two years due to the so-called "Rolex scandal."
President Boluarte wore at least 14 watches, including a Rolex worth $14,000 (approximately 18.75 million KRW), during official schedules over about two years (including her time as vice president). Following media reports questioning the unclear acquisition of these watches, prosecutors launched an investigation. They conducted late-night raids on the president's residence and the presidential palace, focusing mainly on how she came to possess three high-end Rolex watches.
The so-called 'Rolex Scandal' has pushed Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to the brink of impeachment. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Peru has seen an unstable political climate with recent presidents such as Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016?2018) and Mart?n Vizcarra (2018?2020) being impeached one after another. Pedro Castillo (2021?2022), Boluarte’s predecessor, also failed to complete his term and resigned in disgrace due to moral incompetence after attempting to dissolve the National Congress.
According to the National Congress law, impeachment proceedings can be initiated in a plenary session if more than 40% (52 members) of the total seats agree. The impeachment motion passes if two-thirds of the total members vote in favor. The Peruvian Congress has 130 seats, so at least 87 votes are required for approval.
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