The World Today
In early October 2022, amid heightened political tensions in Peru, then-Vice President Dina Boluarte issued controversial statements in which she claimed that young people participating in protests against President Pedro Castillo's government were being "influenced" by sectors she described as "resentful."
These statements came during a period of constant protests and criticism of Castillo's administration and were part of the executive branch's narrative to defend itself against what it considered destabilizing attacks. Boluarte, in her role as vice president, sought to discredit the protesters' motivations, attributing them to third-party manipulation rather than genuine social discontent.
The official's remarks were not an isolated incident, but rather part of a government discourse that consistently pointed to the political opposition, certain economic power groups, and the media as the instigators of the protests. The objective was to present the protests not as a legitimate exercise of citizenship, but as an orchestrated strategy to undermine the democratically elected government.
The context of the political crisis in 2022
To understand the scope of these statements, it is essential to analyze Peru's political landscape at the end of 2022. Pedro Castillo faced a governability crisis almost from its inception in July 2021. The confrontation with an opposition-majority Congress was constant, with multiple attempts to impeach the president and a series of fiscal investigations for alleged corruption involving the president's closest associates.
In this context, citizen protests had become recurrent. Various groups, including youth and student groups, took to the streets to express their rejection of political instability, alleged acts of corruption, and the country's economic management. The demands were varied, but a significant segment called for the resignation or removal of President Castillo.
The government's response to this discontent often consisted of downplaying the legitimacy of the marches. Then-Vice President Boluarte, by calling the young people "influenced," reinforced the idea that there was no real social basis for the criticism, but rather manipulation by those who, in her view, did not accept the results of the 2021 elections.
Who were the "resentful" ones?
Although Dina Boluarte did not specify who she meant with the term "resentful," this adjective was commonly used by government supporters to refer to the political opposition , led by parties like Fuerza Popular, and to the economic and social elites in Lima who had historically held power. The official narrative presented these groups as motivated by resentment at having lost their privileges with the arrival of a government of rural and popular origin.
This rhetoric deepened the country's already polarized outlook. On the one hand, government supporters saw the protests as an attempt by the right to regain power through undemocratic means. On the other hand, the opposition and a segment of the public believed the government was using this rhetoric to evade its responsibility for the crisis and to stigmatize those who dissented.
Boluarte's statements, therefore, contributed to an environment in which dialogue was virtually impossible. Instead of addressing the causes of youth discontent, the decision was made to discredit the messengers, a strategy that ultimately proved unsustainable.
Reactions and the prelude to a drastic change
The vice president's statements drew immediate condemnation from various sectors. Political opposition leaders accused her of ignoring reality and underestimating the judgment of Peruvian youth. Student organizations and youth groups issued statements denying being instruments of any political group and reaffirming the autonomy of their demands.
experts and analysts pointed out the danger of this type of discourse, warning that refusing to acknowledge social discontent could only lead to greater conflict. However, at the time, few imagined the magnitude of the crisis that was about to unfold just two months later.
On December 7, 2022, Peru's political history took a dramatic turn. President Pedro Castillo, in an attempt to avoid a new impeachment motion, announced the dissolution of Congress and the establishment of a government of emergency, a measure unanimously condemned as a self-coup. The attempt failed within hours. Congress removed him from office for permanent moral incapacity, and Castillo was arrested.
From vice president to president amidst turmoil
By constitutional succession, Dina Boluarte was sworn in as the new president of the Republic that same day. What followed was a wave of protests far greater than those faced by the government she served on. Paradoxically, a large portion of the protesters were young people from southern regions of the country demanding her resignation, the closure of Congress, and early elections.
Her government's response to these protests was harshly criticized nationally and internationally for its excessive use of force, which left dozens dead. The official who months earlier had accused the young protesters of being "influenced" now, as head of state, faced a social rebellion that was being violently suppressed.
His October 2022 statements then took on a new meaning, being remembered by his critics as a sign of his disconnection from popular demands and as a bitter precedent for the stance his own government would adopt in the face of social protest. The political crisis in Peru, far from being resolved with Castillo's departure, had worsened, leaving a country even more fractured and with deep wounds yet to heal.
