The evening of Wednesday December 7 was more than eventful in Peru.
After only sixteen months in office marred by anti-corruption accusations and systemic ministerial instability, Peru's President Pedro Castillo was removed from office.
And this, after a failed attempt, as confused as clumsy, to stay in power by breaking the constitutional order.
It was its vice-president Dina Boluarte who immediately took over, and today occupies the presidential chair.
The 60-year-old ex-lawyer was invested in the wake of the dismissal of her predecessor.
It has received the support of the European Union, which welcomes its desire to “
strengthen the rule of law and democratic institutions in Peru
”.
Representative of the Peruvian political class
A successful journey for this politician from the district of Chalhuanca, released from anonymity since the victory in July 2021 of the now deposed Pedro Castillo.
A member of the far-left political party Perú Libre since 2018, she was expelled from it in January 2022 after declaring in an interview "
never to have embraced the ideology of Perú Libre
", while insisting on her goals of establish a universal health system and improve the educational system.
"
She emphasizes in her speeches the poorest and most vulnerable populations
," says Patricia Zarate, Peruvian political scientist, head of opinion studies at the IEP in Lima.
Vice-president of Castillo, Dina Boluarte doubles her hat by also becoming in July 2021 Minister of Development and Social Inclusion... before leaving this post four months later, when the constitution of the fifth government of Pedro Castillo.
The reason?
“
The current polarization is hurting everyone
,” she repeats over and over again on Twitter, adding that she prefers to consolidate “
the broadest unity of all Peruvians
” as vice president.
Read alsoIn Peru, the lawsuits are increasing against President Pedro Castillo
Seasoned politician?
"
Not really
," said Jorge Aragon, a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
“
Dina Boluarte is in this respect a fairly representative example of the Peruvian political class which has been pulling the strings of power for several years.
The country's new president "
doesn't have much political experience, or real conviction, to tell the truth
," he admits.
"
She was part of Perú Libre, a radical left organization, but today she could join forces with certain political forces that have always been in opposition to the government of which she was a member.
"
In the meantime, the one who becomes the first woman to head this Latin American state is expected at the turn.
His predecessor Castillo, who won the presidential elections in July 2021 after a close battle with the populist right candidate Keiko Fujimori, was cornered by several corruption cases.
Forced to ally with right-wing parties to stay in power, appointing ministers in succession, Pedro Castillo had never risen very high in the esteem granted to him by the Peruvian population.
"Reorient the destiny of the country"
The Peruvian president has affirmed her desire to govern until July 2026, the date of the end of Pedro Castillo's current mandate, without however excluding the idea of considering early elections ... And wants to be seen as a break with the government of his predecessor, claiming to want to "
reorient the destiny of the country
" during his first press conference on Thursday, December 8.
“
In fact, I don't think there is much continuity with previous policies
,” answers Jorge Aragon, “
since in reality, the Castillo government was characterized by a lack of policies.
No significant progress has been made to improve the conditions of the poorest, or to better distribute the wealth in the country
”.
And to ironize: “
How could we implement government policies if the ministers changed every three days?
»
Read alsoNew resignation of the head of government in Peru
Corruption, government instability... Will Dina Boluarte follow in the footsteps of her predecessor?
The Peruvian president guaranteed, from her inauguration, her desire to form a government of openness to confirm the solidity of the institutions... Until asking a truce to the opposition to "
install a government of national unity
" while doubt hangs over his ability to weather the political storm.
"
It is likely that, more than a rejection of her per se, the rejection of public opinion concerns the continuity of the current Congress of the Republic, which appointed her president, without popular election",
explains Patricia Zarat.
An opinion corroborated by Jorge Aragon.
"
Boluarte's government is structurally weak
," he recalls.
"
He does not yet have the support that Castillo retained in public opinion, even if he was not very important
".
In reality, Dina Boluarte would be making a "
serious error
" if she were to refuse to organize early elections, he agrees.
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