Peru’s President Dina Boluarte Doubles Salary Amid Record-Low Approval and Mounting Scandals

44

Peru’s embattled President Dina Boluarte has sparked outrage after the government confirmed she has doubled her monthly salary to the equivalent of $10,000, despite her record-low approval ratings and a series of political scandals.

The announcement, made on Wednesday, July 2, comes via an official government decree and follows months of public denial from the presidency regarding any planned salary increase.

Peru’s Economy Minister Raul Perez-Reyes defended the controversial decision, stating that Boluarte’s new salary was set after comparing the earnings of 12 Latin American heads of state. Before the raise, Boluarte’s salary ranked 11th, only ahead of Bolivia’s president.

The news has further fueled public anger, as Boluarte’s approval rating plummeted to just 2 percent in May.

“This is the worst possible time to announce a pay raise, given her approval ratings are near zero,” economist Jorge Gonzáles Izquierdo told N television.

Critics, including former Economy Minister Luis Miguel Castilla, say the salary hike only reinforces perceptions of frivolity and disconnect surrounding Boluarte’s leadership.

Since rising to power in December 2022, Boluarte has faced relentless protests, corruption investigations, and a surge in gang violence. She is currently under at least a dozen criminal probes, including allegations of failing to declare luxury gifts — a scandal dubbed “Rolexgate.”

Public discontent continues to mount, with many Peruvians demanding accountability and an end to what they see as self-serving governance.