Rolexgate Scandal: Peru's President Cleared from Impeachment Process

A congressional committee’s decision shields Boluarte from immediate repercussions, despite ongoing public discontent and potential future legal challenges.

In a recent turn of events, the congressional subcommittee in Peru has chosen to drop the investigation into President Dina Boluarte concerning allegations of receiving Rolex watches as bribes. This development allows Boluarte, who currently enjoys abysmally low approval ratings, to evade impeachment proceedings for now. However, she may still be subject to legal action once she vacates her presidential post next year and her immunity dissolves.

The scandal known as "Rolexgate" began when a news report highlighted Boluarte's penchant for luxury watches worn during public engagements. This led to police raids at her residence in March 2024, where authorities sought more than a dozen deliberately unreported timepieces. The search was prompted by her previous request for an extension to submit proof of purchase for the watches, which prosecutors denied. Boluarte’s government has since characterized this raid as "disproportionate and unconstitutional."

The president has maintained her innocence, asserting that she joined the government “with clean hands” and intends to leave under the same pretense, stating that her Rolex was an older item obtained through years of work. Additionally, she is embroiled in a separate investigation regarding a two-week undisclosed absence in 2023 related to a nose surgery, during which she did not delegate her responsibilities.

Boluarte's presidency came into being under tumultuous circumstances; she succeeded Pedro Castillo after his impeachment, which was followed by violent protests resulting in numerous casualties and public calls for her resignation. Looking ahead, the next presidential and legislative elections are scheduled for April 2026.