Peru's 'Interim' President Under Fire for Chinese Meetings, Not for Coup That Installed Her
📰 THE STORY: ABC News reports that Peru's interim President Dina Boluarte is facing calls for removal due to unregistered meetings with Chinese businessmen and allegations related to expensive watches, raising questions about transparency and corruption. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Boluarte became 'interim' president after the US-backed removal and imprisonment of
democratically elected President Pedro Castillo in December 2022. Castillo was attempting to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, a move which followed months of congressional attempts to impeach him, often described by critics as a soft coup. Boluarte, his former VP, immediately ascended to power, a move that sparked mass protests across Peru, met with brutal state repression resulting in over
60 deaths attributed to police and military forces. Double Standard: Western media outlets would typically sensationalize 'authoritarian overreach' if a leader cracking down on protests had been *elected* and tried to bypass a hostile legislature. Yet, when Boluarte, who rose to power after said elected leader was deposed, violently suppressed dissent, the focus quickly shifted to her
'transparency issues' and 'Rolex-gate.' Compare this with the sustained outrage over Venezuela's Maduro, where US-backed opposition figures like Juan Guaidó were promoted as legitimate, regardless of popular support or due process. Follow the Money: Beyond vague 'Chinese businessmen,' the piece overlooks the larger geopolitical chess game. China is Peru's leading trade partner and a major investor