Peru’s embattled president, Dina Boluarte, has sparked fresh outrage by doubling her salary to $10,000 a month—despite plummeting approval ratings and a country reeling from gang violence and political disillusionment.
The announcement came via official decree on Wednesday, July 2, and drew immediate backlash. Just weeks earlier, the presidency had denied rumors that Boluarte planned to raise her pay. Now confirmed, the move is being widely condemned as ill-timed and tone-deaf.
According to Economy Minister Raul Perez-Reyes, the raise was based on comparisons with heads of state from twelve Latin American countries, where Boluarte’s previous salary ranked second to last. But the optics are dismal: in May, her approval rating stood at a historic low of 2 percent.
“This is the worst time to announce this news,” economist Jorge Gonzáles Izquierdo told N television. “Her approval ratings are close to zero.”
Former Economy Minister Luis Miguel Castilla echoed the criticism, stating that the decision only “reinforces the impression of frivolity” that has dogged Boluarte’s presidency.
Since assuming office in December 2022, Boluarte has faced nonstop protests, multiple corruption probes, and growing calls for her resignation. She is currently under investigation in over a dozen cases—including the infamous “Rolexgate,” where she allegedly failed to declare gifts of luxury watches and jewelry.
As gang violence surges and public confidence erodes, this pay hike may prove politically costly, further isolating a leader already walking a tightrope.
