Peruvian President Dina Boluarte swore in economist Raúl Pérez-Reyes as the new Minister of Production after accepting Sandra Belaunde’s resignation on Wednesday.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government Palace in downtown Lima, where Pérez-Reyes joined the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Alberto Otárola.
The new minister is an economist who graduated from the University of Lima, holds a master’s degree in economics from the Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económica de México, and a doctorate from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Spain).
With more than 20 years of experience in the public sector, he already held the position of Minister of Production during the government of former President Martin Vizcarra (2018-2020).
Among other positions, he held during the last years is that of vice minister of Communications and vice minister of Energy, as well as director of the Supervisory Body of Private Investment in Energy and Mines (Osinergmin).
Pérez-Reyes takes over the Ministry of Production from Sandra Belaunde, who had assumed the portfolio on Dec. 10, shortly after Boluarte was sworn in as President of Peru following the dismissal of former President Pedro Castillo on Dec. 7.
Although the reason for her resignation is unknown, she became the sixth minister to leave a cabinet formed by Boluarte amid the social pressure represented by the wave of demonstrations that have left 63 people dead so far in the South American country.
According to local media on Wednesday, Otarola thanked Belaunde for “the commitment and professionalism he has shown”, especially amid the social “situation” Peru is going through.