Does it matter that Peru’s president, Bolhuarte, secretly had a nose job? Lawyers think so

A possible violation of the constitution by President Dina Baluarte has sparked controversy in Peru after former Prime Minister Alberto Atarola assured parliament on Tuesday that Baluarte underwent a nose job in 2023. The president would not report the operation to the legislature, failing to comply with the requirements of the Constitution.

Atarola told a parliamentary committee today that while Boluarte was in office in 2023, he underwent rhinoplasty and returned to work in person a week and a half later, although he previously worked virtually. He said he did not remember the date of the operation.

The former official confesses for the first time an intervention that Boluarte would undergo after the weekly Hildebrant en sus trece reported seven months ago that the president underwent surgery at the end of June last year and returned to her duties in July 2023.

Heber Campos, professor of constitutional law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, said on his X account, formerly known as Twitter, that the event is “serious” because it confirms that Boluarte underwent surgery “and that it was not official duly notified, neither to Congress nor to the country.

He explained that the president is obliged to notify the parliament to avoid a “power vacuum” and for the legislature to activate the “rule of succession” provided for in articles 114 and 115 of the Peruvian Constitution. Both articles indicate that during the temporary absence of the President, the Vice-President acts, and in his absence, the President of the Parliament replaces him.

For his part, the constitutional lawyer Luciano López said in his X account that Boluarte cannot work remotely after the operation because the only case allowed by law occurs when the president is outside Peru, abroad.

Baluarte and his current prime minister, Gustavo Adriansen, who succeeded Atarola from early 2024, avoided the issue. In July, Boluarte described two questions about whether he had a nose job as “prejudiced.”

The president of the Supervisory Commission, Juan Burgos of the Podemos Peru party, told the press that up to ten hours could be added, including the stages before and after the operation, during which there was “no president of the republic” in Peru, because the president did not entrust his position, did not inform the parliament and did not inform the country. The former prime minister testified before the Burgos commission.

Peru does not have a vice president because Baluarte was the one who held the position until 2022, when he succeeded then-president Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), who was fired after trying to dissolve the parliament and sent to the detention center while being investigated for corruption and sedition.

The former prime minister told the commission he did not know who paid for the intervention or whether Boluarte had been ordered to rest. “As far as I know, the president did not sign any documents under the influence of anesthesia,” he added.

In parliament, Atarola noted that Boluarte had previously told him “that he was going to have a rhinoplasty… an operation on the nose, but because of breathing problems.” He stated that he communicated with Boluarte the day after the operation, “it was clear from his voice that he clearly had an operation on his nostrils”, but from then on he had a continuous communication, even a weekly virtual meeting. with ministers. “He returned to the personal councils of ministers after a week and a half,” Atarola added.

The presidential and prime minister spoke about it Associated Press that had no comments. “We are focused on the daily work. Everything is fine here,” said Jean Pajuela, the president’s communications secretary.

Without its own legislature, Baluarte survived five impeachment attempts thanks to the coalition that defended him and which includes two populist parties, notably Fuerza Popular led by former first lady Keiko Fujimori and Alianza para el Progreso led by businessman and governor Cesar Acuña.

Legislator Patricia Juarez of Fuerza Popular – part of that coalition – said there was no solid legal basis to accuse the president of violating the Constitution. “I’ve seen a lot of people who have had surgery and I don’t think it’s a mistake… and it’s not a problem,” he told the press.

Prosecutors are investigating Bolluarte in several cases, one for her alleged responsibility for the deaths of protesters early in her administration, and the other for her alleged involvement in bribery after show some luxury Rolex watches the purchase of which she could not justify, as she alleges that they were lent her by the governor, who was her friend, without demanding anything in return.

Bolluarte’s popularity is the lowest for a Peruvian leader since 1980. Datum Internacional found in November that Baluarte’s approval rating had fallen to 3%. His unpopularity rose to 94%, and 3% had no opinion.

Tune in to VOA! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and subscribe to us Facebook, X d Instagram.