Gustavo Adrianzen disclosed his resignation during a nationwide broadcast just hours after the unpopular President Dina Boluarte appointed new ministers, including a new finance chief. All other ministers will also need to step down alongside Adrianzen, including those appointed earlier on Tuesday, though Boluarte may reinstate them if she names a new prime minister.
The collapse of the cabinet seemed unavoidable. The opposition-led Congress had already planned a vote of no confidence against Adrianzen for Wednesday, and the cabinet reshuffle only encouraged congressional factions to push for his dismissal. Boluarte’s approval rating hit an all-time low of 2% in an Ipsos poll released this week.
Although new Finance Minister Raul Perez-Reyes will have to resign, Boluarte might opt to reappoint the loyal official, who has already served as both transport and production minister during her administration. He marks Boluarte’s fourth finance chief in her two-year term.
However, she may consider the backing that Perez-Reyes’ predecessor garnered just before his removal. As speculation arose about the potential ousting of now-former Finance Minister Jose Salardi, the leaders of Peru’s major business organizations issued a statement in support of his policies.
Replacing Salardi just months into his tenure “will introduce uncertainty in the economy due to such a swift and hasty change,” stated Jose Zapata, head of the business trade group Confiep, in an interview with the RPP radio network shortly before the new appointment. “We also believe he was a minister who was performing well.”
