Dina Boluarte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Excelentísima Señora Dina Boluarte
Boluarte in 2024
64th President of Peru
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 December 2022
Prime Minister	Pedro Angulo Arana Alberto Otárola Gustavo Adrianzén Eduardo Arana Ysa
Vice President	First Vice President Vacant Second Vice President Vacant
Preceded by	Pedro Castillo
First Vice President of Peru
In office 28 July 2021 – 7 December 2022
President	Pedro Castillo
Preceded by	Martín Vizcarra (2018)
Succeeded by	Vacant
Minister of Development and Social Inclusion
In office 29 July 2021 – 26 November 2022
President	Pedro Castillo
Preceded by	Silvana Vargas [es]
Succeeded by	Cinthya Lindo Espinoza [es]
Personal details
Born	Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra (1962-05-31) 31 May 1962 (age 63) Chalhuanca, Peru
Political party	Independent (2022–present) Free Peru (2017–2022)
Spouse	David Gómez Villasante ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	2
Education	University of San Martín de Porres (LLB)
Signature

Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra (born 31 May 1962) is a Peruvian politician and lawyer. She has been the 64th president of Peru since December 2022. Before becoming president, she was the first vice president and a minister in the government of President Pedro Castillo.

Dina Boluarte is important because she is the first woman to become President of Peru. She took office after Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve the Peruvian Congress and was then removed from his position. Her time as president has seen many protests across Peru.

About Dina Boluarte

Early Life and Education

Dina Boluarte was born on 31 May 1962, in Chalhuanca, Apurímac, Peru. She grew up in a family that spoke Quechua. She studied law and graduated from the University of San Martín de Porres. She also did more studies at the same university.

Early Career

Before becoming a top politician, Boluarte worked as an attorney and officer at the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC) starting in 2007. This is an important government office that handles people's identities and civil records.

In 2004, she helped write a book called The Recognition of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. Later, there was an investigation about parts of the book being similar to other texts.

She also tried to become mayor of the Surquillo district in Lima in 2018, but she did not win. She also ran for a seat in Congress in 2020 but was not elected.

Becoming Vice President

In the 2021 Peruvian general election, Dina Boluarte was chosen as the running mate for Pedro Castillo. They won the election, and she became the First Vice President of Peru.

She also became the Minister of Development and Social Inclusion in Castillo's government in July 2021. This role involves helping people and communities in need.

Boluarte with Castillo at Palacio de Gobierno in 2022

In January 2022, Boluarte said in an interview that she did not fully agree with the ideas of the Free Peru party, which she was part of. Because of this, the party later removed her. She resigned from her minister position in November 2022 but remained Vice President.

Presidency (2022–present)

Taking Office

On 7 December 2022, Peru was going through a political crisis. President Pedro Castillo tried to close down the Congress. Dina Boluarte spoke out against this action, saying it was against the country's rules. After Congress removed Castillo from office, Boluarte became the new president. She made history as Peru's first female president.

When she first spoke to Congress, she said she wanted to form a government that would unite the country. She chose people who were experts in their fields, not just politicians, to be part of her government.

Public Protests

After Boluarte became president, many protests started across Peru. People were unhappy with the change in leadership and other issues. The government declared a state of emergency to try and control the protests.

IACHR representatives meeting with President Boluarte during the 2022 Peruvian political protests

Boluarte said she did not understand why people were protesting against her. Human rights groups like Amnesty International asked the government to be careful and not use too much force against protesters. Protests were strongest in regions where many Quechua people live, who had supported Pedro Castillo.

There were serious events during these protests, including in Ayacucho and Juliaca. Investigations were opened to look into the actions taken by authorities during these events.

Legal Investigations

In January 2023, Peru's Attorney General started an investigation to see if Boluarte and some members of her government were involved in serious actions during the protests. Boluarte called these investigations unfair.

In March 2024, another investigation began into Boluarte. This was because she was seen wearing expensive watches and jewelry at public events. The investigation looked into whether she had gained wealth improperly. Her home was searched by police and officials as part of this investigation. Boluarte said her belongings were earned through her hard work.

Changes in Government

During her presidency, several prime ministers have served under Boluarte. Her first prime minister, Pedro Angulo Arana, was dismissed quickly. Later, Alberto Otárola resigned after questions arose about his actions while he was a minister. Gustavo Adrianzén also resigned in May 2025. The current prime minister is Eduardo Arana Ysa.

Family Matters

Dina Boluarte has a brother named Nicanor Boluarte. He was also investigated and arrested in May 2024 on suspicion of using his influence improperly. His political party, Citizens for Peru, was officially registered in January 2025.

International Visits

In June 2024, President Boluarte visited China with several ministers to discuss trade and other ties between the two countries. She met with Chinese leaders and business people. In May 2025, she traveled to Rome to attend a special religious event.

Political Views

When she was elected Vice President, Dina Boluarte was part of the Free Peru party, which had left-leaning and socialist ideas. However, after she was removed from the party in 2022, her political views seemed to shift. Many observers describe her government as more conservative.

Some political experts say that Boluarte's lack of political experience led her to change her views. They note that she moved from supporting rural people, who had elected her, to working more closely with right-wing groups in Congress. This made some of her original supporters feel betrayed.

Personal Life

Dina Boluarte speaks Spanish and also has a good understanding of Quechua. She was married to David Gómez Villasante and they have two sons. Her brother, Nicanor Boluarte, has also been in the news due to investigations.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Dina Boluarte para niños