The political groups that They begin to distance themselves from President Dina Boluarte They bring about a scenario of rupture that points to lighten the questioning for the elections and there are already possibilities of negotiation on next year’s budget.
In addition to Congress’s refusal to allow Boluarte to travel to the United States to attend the United Nations Assembly, there are approvals to question two ministers: Interior Minister Juan Santivañez and Environment Minister Juan Castro. In addition, legislator Juan Burgos, from Podemos Peru, president of the Oversight Committee, accused Santiváñez of seeking a private meeting with him, who is investigating the case of the presidential car called ‘coffer’ and the concealment of the fugitive leader of Peru Libre, Vladimir Cerrón.
In a message to the nation, Boluarte lashed out at the congressmen who denied him the trip. He referred to them as politicians who “place obstacles to the progress of Peruvians” and for whom “partisan and personal interests are more important than the interests” of the country.
Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén followed suit. “Political considerations have prevailed, not necessarily national interests,” he said on RPP radio.
The votes against the trip were mainly from Podemos, Peru Libre, Popular Renewal (6 out of 10 members), Together for Peru-Voces del Pueblo (5 out of 8), Socialist Bench, Popular Democratic Bloc and Avanza País (4 out of 8). In favor were Fuerza Popular and Alliance for Progress (APP, 11 out of 14).
“(Boluarte) has to understand that she is not protected. (…) she feels authoritarian because she believes she is protected. She has had the support of Congress, yes, but so that there is governability, not so that she feels omnipotent,” said legislator Norma Yarrow, from Renovación.
In order to question Santiváñez, the votes against the government stand out from Peru Libre, Together for Peru-Voces del Pueblo, Socialist Bench, Popular Democratic Bloc and Avanza País; and in favor of the Executive, those from Fuerza Popular and a divided APP.
Earlier, during the last change of ministers, conservative congressmen had questioned Boluarte for removing Javier González-Olaechea as foreign minister. “She may be a governor, but she is definitely not a stateswoman,” said José Cueto, from the Honor and Democracy party.
Peru Libre has never participated in Boluarte’s rounds with the parties. Cerrón, its fugitive leader, said on the social network X (Twitter) that Santiváñez “has completed his term and his mission” and “he should be replaced.”
Rafael López Aliaga, head of Renovación and mayor of Lima, refused to go to the Boluarte round with parties last month and sent a delegation. This week, he questioned the government by saying that there is “no will” to combat insecurity.
Tensions are escalating as the 2025 state budget is due to be drawn up next month and the pace of the 2026 elections will be accelerated that year.
Vacancy possible
Journalist and lawyer Rosa María Palacios, a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University (PUCP), considers the possible vacancy of Boluarte from Parliament in the last part of his mandates because they do not need her and the legislators would not leave their posts. “It is a hypothesis, not an absolute truth. But if she is vacated after the call for general elections, Congress will no longer be dissolved,” she says.
The call for elections must be in April 2025.
“There is tension between the Executive and the Legislative branches that intensifies as each responds. We do not know the limits, but it is clear that any means are used to strike, especially the media that suddenly focus on the cases of Cerrón, Santiváñez and fires, for example,” says political scientist Martín Navarro, professor at the Universidad Mayor de San Marcos.
“The main reasons for refusing Boluarte’s trip and for questioning two ministers would be not having made changes in portfolios that were of interest to certain parties and having relieved González Olaechea. The support of Fuerza Popular and APP is given because they are the forces that co-govern and would lose their advantages. This tolerance would not be sustainable over time and the inevitable will happen: parties that supported Boluarte against Castillo will abandon it when they believe it is time to govern directly. It could be in the short term or the year before the elections,” he warns.
Reactions
“The parties that supported Boluarte against Castillo will abandon her when they believe it is time to govern directly. That could be in the short term or the year before the elections.”
Martín Navarro, political scientist and professor (UNMSM)
“The Luna and Cerrón factions do not seem to want (Boluarte) to get too close to them. (…) The Renovación and Avanza País factions have to start distancing themselves from the Government.”
Rosa María Palacios, journalist, lawyer and professor (PUCP)
More data
Replacement. The Government authorized ministers José Arista (Economy), Eduardo Arana (Justice) and César Vásquez (Health) to travel to the United States to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, given Dina Boluarte’s inability to go.
