Dina Boluarte

Quick facts for kids Dina Boluarte
Boluarte in 2024
64th President of Peru
In office 7 December 2022 – 10 October 2025
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
Succeeded by	José Jerí
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 May 31, 1962) is a Peruvian politician and lawyer who was the 64th president of Peru. She was the first woman to become president of Peru. She served from December 7, 2022, until she was removed from office on October 10, 2025.

Before becoming president, she was the first vice president under President Pedro Castillo. She also worked as a minister in the government.

Boluarte became president after Castillo was removed from office for trying to shut down the Peruvian Congress. Her presidency was marked by large protests across the country. The way her government handled these protests was very controversial. She also faced a major scandal known as "Rolexgate" over her ownership of expensive watches.

Her time as president was difficult, and she became very unpopular. The Congress of Peru voted to remove her from office in 2025.

Early Life and Education

Dina Boluarte was born in the small town of Chalhuanca, Peru, on May 31, 1962. Her family spoke the native language Quechua. She later moved to the city to study and became a lawyer after graduating from the University of San Martín de Porres.

In 2004, she helped write a book about human rights. Later, the book was investigated because it was found that over half of its text was copied from another source without giving credit.

Early Career

Boluarte worked as a lawyer for the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), a government agency, starting in 2007.

She first tried to enter politics in 2018 by running for mayor of a district in Lima, but she was not successful. In 2020, she ran for a seat in Peru's Congress but did not win.

Becoming Vice President

In the 2021 presidential election, Dina Boluarte was the vice presidential candidate on the ticket with Pedro Castillo. They won the election, and she became the First Vice President of Peru on July 28, 2021. She was also appointed as the Minister of Development and Social Inclusion.

Over time, she had disagreements with her political party, Free Peru. In early 2022, she said she did not agree with the party's ideas. The party leader, Vladimir Cerrón, then expelled her from the party.

Presidency (2022–2025)

Taking Office

On December 7, 2022, President Pedro Castillo tried to dissolve the Congress to avoid being removed from office. This move was seen as against the constitution. Congress then voted to remove Castillo, and he was arrested.

As the first vice president, Dina Boluarte was next in line. She was sworn in as president that same day, becoming the first woman to lead Peru. In her first speech, she promised to create a government that would bring the country together.

Protests and Controversy

IACHR representatives meeting with President Boluarte during the protests in 2022.

Soon after Boluarte took office, large protests started across Peru. Many protesters were supporters of the former president, Pedro Castillo, and were angry that he had been removed. They demanded that Boluarte resign and that new elections be held.

The government responded by sending the police and military to control the protests. This led to serious clashes where many people were hurt or killed. Human rights groups and other countries criticized Boluarte's government for using too much force against the protesters. Boluarte, however, defended the actions of the police and military.

Because of the government's actions, Peru's Attorney General opened investigations into Boluarte and some of her ministers.

The "Rolexgate" Scandal

Boluarte in December 2023, wearing one of the expensive watches.

In March 2024, a major scandal known as "Rolexgate" began. A news website reported that Boluarte had been seen wearing several expensive Rolex watches at public events. The watches were worth much more than her government salary.

This raised questions about how she could afford them. Boluarte said the watches were the result of her hard work. The controversy grew when it was discovered she also owned other expensive jewelry, like a Cartier bracelet worth over $50,000.

In late March 2024, police and government officials raided her home and the Government Palace as part of the investigation. This event was broadcast on television and caused a major political stir, leading several of her ministers to resign.

Removal from Office

The protests and the Rolexgate scandal made Boluarte extremely unpopular. Members of Congress made several attempts to remove her from office.

On October 10, 2025, the Congress of Peru held a final vote to impeach her. They voted 118 to 0 to remove her from the presidency, saying she was morally unfit to lead the country. After the vote, the President of Congress, José Jerí, was sworn in as the new President of Peru.

Political Views

When Dina Boluarte entered politics, she was a member of Free Peru, a left-leaning political party. However, after she became president, she began to work more closely with conservative, right-wing parties in Congress.

Some experts said she changed her political position to gain support and stay in power. They described her as an opportunist. Her government was also called authoritarian by critics, who said she used her power strongly and did not listen to the people who had elected her.

Personal Life

Boluarte speaks both Spanish and Quechua. She was married to David Gómez Villasante, and they have two sons. Her brother, Nicanor Boluarte, was also involved in politics and was arrested in 2024 on suspicion of using his influence improperly.

Honours

•  Indonesia:
  • Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 1st Class – 11 August 2025

Electoral history

Images for kids

• 

  Boluarte with Castillo at the Government Palace in 2022.

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  Boluarte with Alberto Otárola as Defense Minister on December 15, 2022.

See also

In Spanish: Dina Boluarte para niños