Peruvian Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen resigned on Tuesday, a day before he was set to face a censure vote in Congress related to rising crime and the recent killing of a group of miners.
In the audio clips, Otárola can be heard making personal remarks to Pinedo, including declarations of love and requests for her CV, which raised concerns about potential abuse of power. Pinedo, who had received two contracts worth approximately 53,000 soles (about $14,000) from the Defense Ministry in 2023, acknowledged a brief past relationship with Otárola but denied any wrongdoing. Both individuals stated that the recordings were from 2021, before Otárola held a government position. Otárola denied any illegal activity and suggested that the recordings were manipulated to tarnish his image. He claimed that political opponents, including former Prime Minister Martín Vizcarra, were behind the alleged plot.
President Dina Boluarte responded by recalling Otárola from an official visit to Canada. Following his resignation, all 18 members of his cabinet were required to submit their resignations, as per Peruvian law. President Boluarte appointed Gustavo Adrianzén, the country’s representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), as the new prime minister.
The scandal added to the political instability in Peru, which had already been marked by frequent cabinet reshuffles and public protests. President Boluarte’s administration faced challenges in stabilizing the government and addressing calls for early elections amid low approval ratings and economic concerns .