After Pedro Castillo's arrest, Dina Boluarte sworn in as president of Peru

The former vice-president became the first female head of state of in Peru’s history and called for national unity.

Dina Boluarte started the day as vice president but ended it as president after Pedro Castillo was arrested for attempting a coup d'état.

Castillo announced the dissolution of Congress hours before the same parliament was to discuss his impeachment proceedings. Ultimately, his attempted coup cost him his position, and his Cabinet resigned. He also faced condemnation from his own supporters.

After learning of the arrest of the now former president, Boluarte was sworn in as president and called for national unity in Peru.

Boluarte took office by constitutional succession in a ceremony before Congress, becoming the first female head of state in Peru’s history.

In her first speech as president, Boluarte distanced herself from Pedro Castillo and announced that her first measure would be to request support from the Attorney General's Office and the Public Prosecutor's Office to "enter into the structures corrupted by the mafias within the State.”

Who is Dina Boluarte?

The new president was born on May 31, 1962 in the province of Apurimac. She graduated as a lawyer from Universidad de San Martín de Porres, where she also completed postgraduate studies.

From 2007 to 2020, she worked as a lawyer and head of one of the offices of the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec). In 2018 she participated as a candidate in the municipal elections and in 2021 she ran for vice president for the leftist Peru Libre party,

Now Boluarte will occupy a position that she herself considered of "high responsibility", although in previous days she had stated that if the president was vacated she would resign from her position.