Peru’s new president, Dina Boluarte, asks cabinet to take anti-corruption pledge
- The country’s first female head of state – who replaced the ousted Pedro Castillo – asked each minister to pledge not to be corrupt while in office
- The 16 ministers picked by Dina Boluarte will be key to further inflaming or calming a country experiencing a seemingly endemic political crisis
Peru’s newest president, Dina Boluarte, swore in a new cabinet on Saturday just three days after becoming the country’s first female head of state, and asked each minister to pledge not to be corrupt while in office.
The 16 ministers picked by Boluarte, who on Wednesday was elevated from vice-president to replace the ousted Pedro Castillo as the country’s leader, will be key to further inflaming or calming a South American country experiencing a seemingly endemic political crisis.
Boluarte presented her government amid demonstrations across Peru calling for her resignation and the scheduling of general elections to replace her and Congress.
Boluarte on Saturday asked each of the eight men and eight women to swear or promise to perform their duties “loyally and faithfully without committing acts of corruption.”
Fluent in Spanish and Quechua, Boluarte was elected as vice-president on the presidential ticket that brought the centre-left Castillo to power last year. She was minister of development and social inclusion during the 17-month administration of Castillo, a rural schoolteacher with no previous political experience.
Boluarte, 60, replaced Castillo after he stunned the country by ordering the dissolution of Congress, which in turn dismissed him for “permanent moral incapacity.” He was arrested on charges of rebellion. His failed move against the opposition-led Congress came hours before lawmakers were set to start a third impeachment attempt against him.
Castillo cycled through more than 70 cabinet members during his administration. Some of them have been accused of wrongdoing.
