Keiko Fujimori was officially sworn in as Peru’s president on Tuesday, marking a continuation of right-wing political momentum in Latin America. Fujimori, 51, secured the presidency following a tight runoff election in June, winning by fewer than 50,000 votes out of more than 18 million cast. She becomes Peru’s tenth head of state in the last decade, a period characterized by significant political instability and frequent leadership changes.
Fujimori, leader of Peru’s largest political party and a four-time presidential candidate, aims to address ongoing challenges related to crime, economic growth, and political turbulence. Her administration is expected to align with broader regional trends favoring conservative governance, which emphasize increased security measures, fiscal discipline, and strengthened ties with the United States.
The inauguration ceremony in Lima saw the attendance of nine conservative regional leaders, including Argentina’s Javier Milei, Chile’s José Antonio Kast, and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa. Also present was King Felipe VI of Spain, reflecting the event’s international significance. These developments follow recent elections across Central and South America that have elevated right-wing figures to power, with Colombia set to inaugurate conservative lawyer Abelardo de la Espriella as president on August 7.
Fujimori’s rise revives a polarizing political legacy. She is the daughter of Alberto Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000. During his tenure, he was credited by supporters with defeating the Maoist Shining Path insurgency and implementing economic reforms. However, his administration drew sharp criticism for authoritarian practices and human rights violations. In 2009, Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison for involvement in kidnappings and death squad killings carried out by the military under his regime. He was released in 2023 and died in 2024.
The conservative swing in Latin America is expected to face significant tests in the coming months, particularly in Brazil’s October presidential election. Incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the frontrunner but will compete against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for his role in attempting to overturn the 2022 election results.
Tensions surrounding elections in the region have been further heightened by allegations from the previous U.S. administration regarding vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems. Brazilian authorities recently denied visas to two U.S. State Department officials intending to travel to Brasília for meetings on election integrity, perceiving the move as an attempt to destabilize public confidence in the democratic process ahead of the vote.
Overall, Fujimori’s presidency solidifies a rightward political trend in Latin America, although the durability of this shift remains uncertain amid complex electoral dynamics and ongoing challenges to democratic institutions.