Dina Boluarte Shielded for Now, But History Points to Prison

The Constitutional Court of Peru has ordered the suspension of all criminal investigations against President Dina Boluarte until July 28, 2026.

The decision confirms that prosecutors may only carry out urgent actions, such as taking statements or requesting documents, but cannot pursue full cases until her mandate ends.

The court argued that presidential immunity is necessary to protect the constitutional function of the office. The ruling freezes several sensitive cases.

Boluarte faces investigations for the deaths of at least 67 people during protests between December 2022 and April 2023. The Ombudsman’s Office documented those fatalities as security forces responded to unrest that erupted after the removal of Pedro Castillo.

Families of victims demand accountability, but proceedings now remain on hold until Boluarte leaves office. Other suspended cases include the so-called Rolexgate, where prosecutors seized three luxury watches and a bracelet after raids on her home and office.

Authorities also investigate her failure to disclose cosmetic surgeries that temporarily prevented her from carrying out official duties.

In addition, prosecutors suspect a presidential vehicle may have helped Vladimir Cerrón, leader of Perú Libre, avoid arrest. A judge recently refused to close that case.

These frozen proceedings add to a larger pattern. Peru has seen nearly every elected president since 1990 end up detained, convicted, or forced from office. Alberto Fujimori served a sentence for human rights crimes and died in 2024.

Alejandro Toledo was extradited, convicted, and sentenced in 2024 to over 20 years for corruption. Alan García took his own life in 2019 during an arrest attempt. Ollanta Humala received a 15-year prison sentence in April 2025.

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski remains under travel restrictions through 2026 as corruption probes continue. Martín Vizcarra received five months of preventive detention in August 2025. Pedro Castillo has been in pre-trial detention since December 2022.

Today, the Barbadillo prison near Lima holds multiple former heads of state, an unprecedented situation even in Latin America. With fragile political parties and a Congress empowered to declare “moral incapacity,” presidents routinely face removal.

Once they leave office, aggressive prosecutors often secure convictions or detention orders. This cycle creates instability that discourages investment and weakens state legitimacy.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling shields Boluarte for now, but it does not erase the cases. On July 29, 2026, the investigations can legally resume.

Peru’s record suggests she will likely join a long list of leaders who faced justice once their immunity ended. For citizens and businesses alike, the presidency has become less a guarantee of power than a near certainty of prosecution.

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