Accusations of Dina Boluarte, Peru's President, in Connection with Fatalities during Protests

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, has been blamed by the country's top prosecutor for the deaths of protesters during anti-government demonstrations. Attorney General Patricia Benavides filed a constitutional complaint against President Boluarte after an 11-month investigation. President Boluarte criticized the complaint, accusing Benavides of using it as a distraction from her own legal issues. Benavides had been accused of leading a corruption ring that allegedly protected politicians in exchange for appointing allies to key positions in the judiciary. She denied any wrongdoing and resisted calls for her resignation. This confrontation between President Boluarte and Attorney General Benavides adds to Peru's political troubles, which started with the removal of President Pedro Castillo in December of the previous year. Boluarte, who was Castillo's vice-president, assumed the presidency and faced demands for her resignation from supporters of Castillo. The situation led to weeks of turmoil with blocked highways, occupied airports, and a deployment of security forces to restore order. At least 49 protesters and bystanders were killed in clashes with the security forces. Human rights groups accused the security forces of using excessive force, leading the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to conclude that a disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force was employed. Although charges have now been filed against the government, it is unlikely to result in an immediate criminal trial due to constitutional limitations. According to Peru's constitution, presidents and parliamentarians cannot be prosecuted for crimes committed while in office. The filed complaint will need to be reviewed by a congressional committee, and even if approved, a trial would only proceed once President Boluarte and Prime Minister Luis Alberto Otárola leave office. Given Peru's recent history of political unrest, impeachments, and resignations, Boluarte's presidency until July 2026 may face challenges.