Peru’s President Dina Boluarte has doubled her monthly salary to approximately $10,000, a government announcement confirmed on Wednesday, despite her administration facing intense public protests and a surge in gang-related violence.
The 63-year-old leader’s pay raise was justified by Economy Minister Raul Perez-Reyes, who explained the decision followed a comparative study of presidential salaries across twelve Latin American countries. Before this increase, Boluarte’s salary was ranked 11th, only higher than Bolivia’s president.
This salary adjustment contradicts earlier presidential denials in May about any pay raise. The announcement has been met with widespread criticism given Boluarte’s approval rating of just 2 percent at that time.
“This is the worst time to announce this news, given her approval ratings are close to zero,” economist Jorge Gonzáles Izquierdo said on N television.
Former Economy Minister Luis Miguel Castilla described the raise as reinforcing “the impression of frivolity” surrounding the president.
Since taking office in December 2022, Boluarte’s term has been marked by continuous protests, political scandals, and investigations. Among these is the “Rolexgate” scandal, which involves allegations that she failed to declare luxury gifts including jewels and watches. Boluarte is currently the subject of a dozen probes amid the country’s escalating gang violence.