MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru: Boluarte undergoes cabinet reshuffle

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte Sunday took the oath of office from four new ministers. Particularly striking was the appointment of Daniel Maurate to replace José Tello on the same day that former President Alejandro Toledo was brought in from the United States to stand trial for influence peddling and money laundering in a spinoff of the Odebrecht scandal. Tello had dubbed Toledo a “criminal.”

It was Boluarte's second-most significant cabinet reshuffle since she came to power last December when as Vice-President she replaced Pedro Castillo who was impeached after his failed coup d'état.

Alberto Otárola was confirmed as President of the Council of Ministers (also known as Prime Minister).

Maurate is a law graduate with a master's degree in Public Administration and Management who used to be Labor Minister under President Ollanta Humala (2011-2016).

Boluarte also replaced Óscar Becerra as Education Minister following his statements last week that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) was an “eyesore,” which led Otárola to clarify that it did not reflect the feelings of Boluarte's government. Magnet Márquez has been appointed as Becerra's replacement.

Lawyer Antonio Varela took office, replacing Luis Adrianzén as Minister of Labor and Employment Promotion, and Juan Mathews became the new Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism in lieu of Luis Helguero.

Boluarte is to rule until July 2026 after overcoming the protests against her that left more than 50 people dead between December and February.