In an event now known as “Rolexgate”, the residence of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was searched by police as part of an ongoing corruption investigation.
The authorities were on the lookout for several Rolex watches that President Boluarte allegedly failed to declare.
The probe was initiated following a news article that highlighted the luxury timepieces she sported at public gatherings since her inauguration in December 2022.
The Peruvian government has criticized the Saturday raid as “excessive and unconstitutional”. Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen expressed his concern on X, previously known as Twitter, stating that the political uproar is severe and is negatively impacting investments and the nation as a whole.
Earlier this month, the government comptroller declared its intention to scrutinize Ms. Boluarte’s asset declarations over the past two years.
In a statement last week, Ms. Boluarte maintained that she entered and will exit the government “with clean hands”. She explained that her Rolex watch was a vintage piece, purchased with earnings from her employment since the age of 18.
The Saturday morning raid, a collaborative effort between the police and the prosecutor’s office, was aired on the local TV channel, Latina. Officials were observed surrounding the house in Lima’s Surquillo District, while traffic was halted by the police.
This event followed the prosecutors’ denial of Ms. Boluarte’s plea for additional time to produce purchase receipts for her watches.
Ms. Boluarte, who was a lawyer before her presidency, assumed the role somewhat unexpectedly after her predecessor, Pedro Castillo, was impeached for trying to dissolve Congress and govern by decree.
The impeachment of Mr. Castillo led to violent demonstrations demanding Ms. Boluarte’s resignation and the call for new elections. The clashes resulted in the deaths of numerous individuals.
