Created a Governmental Vacancy Due to Cosmetic Surgery
Luxury Watch Bribery Scandal... Approval Rating Virtually 'Zero'
Calls for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte (62) are intensifying in Peru. Controversies over her plastic surgery and luxury watches, which surfaced a few years ago, have resurfaced.
On May 18 (local time), CNN in the United States reported that President Boluarte of Peru is facing a political crisis due to allegations of a nose job and the so-called "Rolex Gate."
President Boluarte previously underwent rhinoplasty at a hospital in Lima in July 2023, citing respiratory issues.
However, she faced criticism for stepping away from her duties for about two weeks after the surgery without providing any explanation or appointing a proxy, resulting in a period of governmental vacancy.
Some lawmakers and legal experts argued that President Boluarte violated the constitution and called for her impeachment. They stated that the president is obligated to inform Congress of such surgeries and is responsible for delegating her authority, and that her failure to do so constitutes grounds for impeachment.
However, President Boluarte dismissed the allegations as "a private matter" and countered that she had effectively performed her presidential duties normally during the recovery period after the surgery. Former Prime Minister Alberto Otarola also testified before the parliamentary audit committee in December last year, claiming that "there was no power vacuum at the time because there were no major complications from the surgery."
Ultimately, President Boluarte was investigated by prosecutors over this issue in January of this year, and as the parliamentary audit committee began its investigation, the controversy appeared to subside temporarily.
However, the controversy reignited recently when Mario Cavani, the doctor who performed the president's plastic surgery, revealed related details to the media.
In a TV interview, Cavani stated that, except for one, all five procedures President Boluarte received (rhinoplasty, septoplasty, lower eyelid procedure, nasopharyngeal wrinkle treatment, and fat grafting) were for cosmetic purposes. He even added that the president lost consciousness during the procedure after being administered a sedative.
President Boluarte had previously been embroiled in the so-called "Rolex Gate" scandal, in which she was accused of receiving luxury watches and jewelry as bribes. In addition, following the impeachment of former President Castillo in 2022, Boluarte, who was then vice president, assumed the presidency and has been accused of using excessive force to suppress protests against her succession, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people.
With the plastic surgery allegations resurfacing, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in Lima and across the country, demanding the president's resignation. According to a recent public opinion poll in Peru, 93% of respondents reported having a negative perception of President Boluarte. This represents an approval rating that is virtually zero, among the lowest in the world.
President Boluarte's term runs until July next year. The opposition is reportedly considering impeachment proceedings against her. In Peru, a presidential impeachment motion passes if at least 87 out of the 130 seats in Congress, or more than two-thirds, vote in favor.
Meanwhile, Peru has been plagued by chronic political instability, with six presidents taking office over the past eight years.
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