Peru’s Congress Backs Boluarte as It Plans Impeachment Debate

(Bloomberg) -- Peru’s Congress voted to confirm embattled President Dina Boluarte’s new Cabinet on Wednesday, an expected endorsement even as it set the stage for a coming impeachment debate.

Most Read from Bloomberg

• Texas Toll Road Takeover to Cost Taxpayers at Least $1.7 Billion

• S&P 500 Falls 1% as Oil Jump Spurs Flight to Bonds: Markets Wrap

• Apple Explores Home Robotics as Potential ‘Next Big Thing’ After Car Fizzles

• Biden Tells Netanyahu US Support Hinges on Protecting Civilians

• Kim Jong Un Faces Annihilation in Most Korea War Scenarios

A majority of lawmakers approved the nomination of Gustavo Adrianzen as prime minister, making him the third person to fill the role of top aide in the 15 months Boluarte has been in power. Congress also announced it will vote at its next session whether to admit two pending impeachment motions against Boluarte, who’s engulfed in an illicit enrichment investigation.

Boluarte is one the world’s most unpopular presidents, with an approval rating of just 9% in March. Still, she has found broad support among lawmakers, who are just as unpopular among Peruvians as she is. Boluarte has already survived two impeachment attempts by a wide margin, making a new attempt unlikely to succeed, especially just after a majority of lawmakers endorsed her new Cabinet.

Still, a scandal on the source of expensive jewelry she’s worn in public could lead to her popularity dipping even further. Prosecutors have singled out a Rolex watch and a Cartier bracelet in their investigation as two items that Boluarte would have been unlikely to be able to afford.

Read More: A $15,000 Rolex Threatens to Worsen Peru Leader’s 9% Job Rating

She now faces two impeachment motions filed by left-wing lawmakers over the so-called Rolex scandal. Ultimately, Congress would need a two-thirds majority to oust Boluarte, but at its next session it will need just 40% support in order to move the impeachment process forward. Still, the two previous impeachment attempts have failed to meet that lower threshold.

Peru is notorious for impeaching and firing its presidents. The Andean nation has cycled through six presidents since 2016. Boluarte herself came to power from the vice presidency after her predecessor was impeached and arrested in 2022.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

• How Hertz’s Bet on Teslas Went Horribly Sideways

• Elon Musk’s X Has a Porn Problem

• How Bluey Became a $2 Billion Smash Hit—With an Uncertain Future

• Fixing Boeing’s Broken Culture Starts With a New Plane

• Tiger Woods’ Putter Choice Has Created an Asset Class

©2024 Bloomberg L.P.