President Dina Boluarte has come under renewed criticism after her government announced a controversial salary increase that will see her monthly earnings double to approximately $10,000, despite widespread public disapproval and mounting national challenges.
The decision, confirmed Wednesday through an official decree, comes just a year before the end of her term. It follows months of public unrest over rampant gang violence and a series of political scandals that have plagued her presidency since she assumed office in December 2022.
Boluarte, 63, who is battling record-low approval ratings—reported to be around 2% in May—previously denied media reports suggesting a pay raise was imminent.
Defending the decision, Economy Minister Raul Perez-Reyes said the increase was based on a comparative analysis of presidential salaries across 12 Latin American countries, which previously placed Boluarte 11th on the list, ahead of only Bolivia’s president.
But the timing of the announcement has drawn swift backlash from analysts and citizens alike.
“This is the worst possible moment to announce such a measure, given that her approval ratings are close to zero,” said economist Jorge Gonzáles Izquierdo in a televised interview.
Former Economy Minister Luis Miguel Castilla added that the pay raise “reinforces the impression of frivolity” that continues to dog Boluarte’s administration.
Since taking office, Boluarte has faced ongoing protests, legal investigations, and political controversies. Among the most prominent is “Rolexgate,” a corruption probe involving her alleged failure to declare luxury watches and jewelry. She is currently the subject of a dozen active investigations.
The announcement is expected to fuel further public discontent as the country grapples with security and governance crises under her increasingly embattled leadership.
