“During a discussion with the president of the Republic, I announced my decision to resign,” Mr Otarola – who has also served as defense minister – told reporters.
In a clip of a conversation broadcast over the weekend by Panamericana Televisión’s Panorama TV show, Mr. Otarola is heard having a conversation with 25-year-old Yasire Pinedo, who he calls his “love.” Mrs. Pinedo secured two government contracts worth $14,000 this year for filing and public administration work.
“So tell me, my love, so we can talk,” the voice purporting to be Mr. Otarola’s can be heard saying. “You know these things are annoying, they’re tiring, but you also know I love you,” the Peruvian politician reportedly added, referring to the administrative procedures for awarding public contracts.
Prime Minister Otarola, a former lawyer, has denied breaking Peruvian law, or labor law, or doing anything wrong, attributing the release of the conversation to a conspiracy by his political opponents.
He also emphasized that the recordings are the product of editing, which according to him will be “shown” by their examination by experts, while he pledged to cooperate in any investigation that is carried out.
Yesterday Monday, through X (the former Twitter), he assured that “I understand the gravity of the political circumstances (…) but I repeat that I did not do anything illegal”.
Yesterday Tuesday Mrs. Pinedo said in an interview with a Peruvian television station that the audio clips that were broadcast were recorded in 2021, before he became a minister, while she admitted that she had a brief, “possibly romantic” relationship with him.
The prosecutor’s office has announced that it has begun an investigation into the exercise of undue influence in exchange for compensation. Opposition parties have all demanded the resignation of Mr Otarola, 57, a married father of five, in office from December 2022.
The resignation of the prime minister means that the remaining 18 members of the government must also leave their posts, under Peruvian law. President Bolluarte then has the choice to reinstate them or not.
Mr. Otarola hastily returned because of the revelation of the case from a trip to Canada where he was attending a mining and minerals conference.
Ms Bolluarte reshuffled just last month, replacing four ministers, notably those of Finance and Mines and Mines, amid a deepening crisis.
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