Peru’s President Dina Bolluarte is once again in the spotlight as lawmakers and legal experts call for her resignation. Officials accuse the 62-year-old of neglecting to delegate her duties when she took time off to get her nose done and have called her irresponsible and unfit for the role of president.
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Peruvian lawmakers demand the resignation of President Dina Bolluarte – due to a nose job.
Officials accuse the 62-year-old of neglecting to delegate her duties when she took time off to get her nose done.
They claim that Boluarte is irresponsible and unfit for the role of president.
While speculation was rife about Boluarte’s absence from public view for some time in late June, news of her surgery was only confirmed when former Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola officially informed a congressional committee.
Here’s what you need to know
What happened?
The President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, had a rhinoplasty this year which took some time off. But lawmakers in the country are angry as she has been absent from the limelight without any warning or even delegating her work.
Also Read: What Is The Rolex Watch Scandal That Threatens Peru’s President Dina Bolivarte?
According to former Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto Otarola, she was getting her nose done. “He told me he was going to have a rhinoplasty … a nose job, but for breathing problems,” Otarola told lawmakers investigating the matter.
Now, the Congressional Oversight Committee is investigating where Boluarte was when she completely disappeared from public view.
Local media reported that Boluarte underwent surgery at a clinic in Lima without informing the public or delegating her powers to Congress.
Otarola claimed that Boluarte performed her duties effectively during her recovery.
“There was no blackout at that time because the surgery had no major complications,” added Otarola, who was fired by Boulwarte in March.
What do legislators want?
Lawmakers and legal experts in the country called for her resignation.
“It would be grounds for dismissal … because the president should have asked for permission from Congress,” Rep. Juan Burgos, who heads the oversight committee, told reporters. Congressional Vice President Patricia Juarez tried to play down the controversy, calling it a “tempest in a teacup.”
It is not the first time that Boluarte has been embroiled in controversy. He had earlier been accused of involvement in a corruption scandal.
Ever since Peru’s first female president took office, she has been regularly seen wearing luxury Rolex watches. Police found luxury items during a raid on her private residence and the presidential palace.
During the raid, prosecutors found documents linking Boluarte to a Datejust 36, which starts at $15,000 (Rs 12.50 lakh) in Peru.
He later admitted to having at least one Rolex watch.
Boluarte was also accused of being responsible for the deaths of more than 50 protesters during the crackdown on protests calling for her to step down and call new elections in 2022.
Boluarte does not have her own party in Congress and has an approval rating of nearly 95 percent.
Her term ends in July 2026.
With inputs from AFP
