On March 18, the Public Ministry opened a preliminary proceeding against Boluarte for the alleged commission of the crime of illicit enrichment for not having declared luxury watches before the National Elections Jury (JNE).
2. The raids
Shortly before midnight on Friday, A team of about 20 prosecutors and as many police officers arrived at Boluarte’s home.in the Lima district of Surquillo, where, upon receiving no response when knocking on the door, they broke the lock and entered the home.
Five hours later they left with briefcases towards their next destination, the Government Palace, where they spent several hours raiding the office and the residential area of the complex.
The court order signed by Supreme Judge Juan Carlos Checkley authorized the search, with unlocking if necessary, of Boluarte’s residence, “who is believed to be the alleged perpetrator of the crimes of illicit enrichment and failure to record statements in documents.”
3. Government Support
Shortly after the search at the Government Palace concluded, the prime minister, Gustavo Adrianzén, left along with several members of the cabinet and the president’s lawyer to describe this measure as disproportionate, illegal and unconstitutional.
“What they are doing is politicizing and showing that justice has been politicized in an unprecedented event that is attacking democratic institutions and the Presidency. and, above all, evidencing the breakdown of the democratic system and constitutionality,” said the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Eduardo Arana.
Lawyer Mateo Castañeda said that the raid was unnecessary and unjustifiedwhich is not proportional to the purpose of this diligence and “that so many tax and police personnel cannot be mobilized to search for some watches.”
During the day, the official accounts on the social networkThey backed Boluarte and rejected fiscal intervention and police.
4. Division among congressmen
While the country waited for Boluarte’s words, The raid divided Peruvian political parties between those who saw an opportunity to revive new elections and criticize the president, and those who criticized the raid and defended her.
Read also: Peruvian Prosecutor’s Office raided Boluarte’s house and the presidential palace
Among the first was the Marxist party to which the president herself belonged, Perú Libre, which presented to Congress a vacancy motion (dismissal) against him which so far has the signature of 26 parliamentarians of the 130 that make up the chamber.
But the majority of conservative political groups such as Fuerza Popular, Renovación Popular or Somos Perú, which defined the raid as “mere spectacle” or “abuse of power”showed their support for Boluarte.
5. Boluarte’s unexplained statement
Amid great expectation, the president made a statement along with her entire cabinet in which she defined what happened at her home and Government Palace as “arbitrary, abusive and disproportionate and stated that there has never been any refusal nor rebellion on their part in the face of the tax investigation.
He did not refer to what citizens expected: the origin of the watches. According to him he said, His lawyer has recommended that he only discuss this issue in public at the Prosecutor’s Office.where he will clarify the facts “as soon as possible.”
In addition, he blamed the media for organizing a campaign of harassment against him and spreading false and biased news against him for months and He reiterated that he will leave the Government in 2026 with clean hands.
During On the day it was made public that the Judiciary admitted for processing a habeas corpus presented by the president’s defense to declare the search of her home null and void.
According to his lawyer, Boluarte will testify at the Public Ministry on Friday, April 5and meanwhile journalistic programs have announced that they will reveal details of what the tax team found in his home and that Peruvians want to know.