Dina Boluarte

Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, born on May 31, 1962, embarked on a career path that, while dedicated to public service, did not initially signal a trajectory towards the nation's highest office. For fifteen years, from 2007 to 2022, she served as an officer at the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), a critical institution responsible for vital records and identification. This extensive experience in bureaucratic administration provided her with an intimate understanding of state machinery and citizen registration.

Prior to this, she also held a ministerial position at the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion, focusing on policies aimed at poverty reduction and community empowerment. These roles, while not overtly political in the partisan sense, honed her administrative skills and exposed her to the socio-economic realities faced by many Peruvians, laying a foundation for her eventual, albeit tumultuous, leadership.

Boluarte's ascent to the presidency was a consequence of a profound constitutional crisis. Serving as the first vice president under President Pedro Castillo, she was thrust into the role of head of state on December 7, 2022. This occurred after Castillo's attempted dissolution of the Congress, an act widely deemed unconstitutional, which led to his impeachment and arrest.

Boluarte's inauguration marked a significant historical moment, as she became the first woman to hold the office of President of Peru. Her alignment with the right-wing majority in Congress and the support she received from the Peruvian Armed Forces signaled a shift in the political landscape, moving away from the more leftist orientation of her predecessor's administration.

The early months of Boluarte's presidency were marred by widespread and intense protests. These demonstrations, often fueled by discontent over the political transition and perceived injustices, led to significant social unrest across Peru. The government's response to these protests became a major point of contention.

Authorities employed military and police forces, resulting in tragic events such as the Ayacucho and Juliaca massacres. These incidents drew severe criticism from human rights organizations and international bodies, with analysts suggesting that the government's crackdown had a detrimental impact on democratic norms. Despite these concerns, Boluarte publicly praised the actions of the armed forces, a stance that further polarized public opinion.

Dina Boluarte's tenure was characterized by a series of significant controversies and a persistent struggle for public legitimacy. The Attorney General of Peru initiated an investigation into allegations of genocide and aggravated homicide against Boluarte and members of her government, though this investigation faced its own political challenges. She also weathered a bribery scandal, infamously dubbed 'Rolexgate'.

Despite her self-description as a 'progressive and moderate leftist,' her administration was frequently labeled as conservative and opportunistic by observers. This disconnect contributed to her unprecedented unpopularity, with approval ratings hitting a historic low of 2% by March 2025, earning her the moniker 'the world's least popular leader.' The culmination of these pressures led to her impeachment and removal from office by the Peruvian Congress in a unanimous 122–0 vote on October 10, 2025, amidst a severe security crisis and renewed civil unrest.