Peru‘s Constitutional Court has suspended investigations into President Dina Boluarte until her term ends in July 2026, citing her position as the country’s sitting president.
The court ruled that probes led by the public prosecutor’s office into alleged misconduct under Boluarte would be halted until her term is over.
The decision applies not only to Boluarte but also to future presidents who may face similar investigations.
One of the most significant probes had to do with Boluarte’s response to the protests that erupted in Peru in December 2022, after President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress. Castillo was impeached, removed from office, and imprisoned, prompting months of intense public backlash.
Thousands of protesters blocked roads and led marches in support of the left-wing leader, while Boluarte declared a state of emergency in response.
The subsequent clashes between the police and protesters killed more than 60 people and left hundreds injured.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found that the State’s response to the protests involved “the disproportionate, indiscriminate, and lethal use of force” and noted that “a significant number of victims were not even involved in the protests”.
Attorney General Patricia Benavides launched a probe into Boluarte’s actions and those of her ministers in January 2023. By November of that year, Benavides had filed a constitutional complaint, accusing Boluarte of causing death and injury to protesters.
Boluarte has denied any wrongdoing, calling the protest probe a distraction from the attorney general’s own public scandals.
Boluarte continues to face probes into other aspects of her presidency, including the “Rolex case”, an investigation into allegations that she owned luxury watches and high-end jewelry beyond her means.
Critics accuse her of seeking illicit enrichment, but Boluarte maintains her hands are “clean”. Congress denied motions to impeach her over the “Rolex case”.
Another investigation looked into her absence from office in 2023, when Boluarte underwent a medical procedure on her nose. Critics argue that her absence was a dereliction of duty done without notifying Congress.
Boluarte has denied the charges. With Peru having weathered much instability in its government, Boluarte is set to exit her office on July 28, 2026, after calling for a new general election in March.