Keiko Fujimori Sworn in as Peru President, Faces Crime Wave Challenge

Keiko Fujimori assumed the presidency of Peru on Tuesday, taking the oath of office in Congress amidst a pressing challenge: confronting the pervasive organized crime that has gripped the nation. The 51-year-old administrator, who secured victory in June by a narrow margin of less than 50,000 votes against leftist candidate Roberto Sánchez, faces the immediate task of implementing her promise for a "tough government" to tackle the escalating security crisis. Fujimori becomes the second woman to lead Peru, following Dina Boluarte. Her inauguration was met with a walkout by a group of leftist parliamentarians who oppose her ascension. The return of Fujimorismo to power, a populist movement with a fluctuating ideological stance between conservatism and liberalism, has once again polarized the country. Fujimori's supporters, like Nelly Vega, a 68-year-old homemaker, express hope: "I am very much in agreement with her promises. She will lead us to something better. We are in a country with a lot of terror." However, many remain skeptical, linking her party to the political instability Peru has experienced over the past decade. Franklin González, a 62-year-old independent worker in Lima, voiced this sentiment: "I don't have faith in her, but what can we do: half of Peru is divided." Since 2016, Peru has seen eight presidents, many removed or forced to resign by Congress, where Fujimorismo has been a significant force. Fujimori, replacing interim president José María Balcázar, is set to govern until 2031. Her presidency aligns Peru with a growing trend of right-wing governments in Latin America. Several regional leaders, including Javier Milei of Argentina, José Antonio Kast of Chile, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, and Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, attended the ceremony. Fujimori's campaign strategy leaned on the legacy of her father, former autocratic president Alberto Fujimori. While credited with defeating the Shining Path guerrilla group and curbing hyperinflation, his presidency is also remembered for controversial actions like closing Congress with military backing and human rights violations, ultimately ending in corruption scandals. This legacy fuels apprehension for some, like 80-year-old retiree César Fuentes, who fears her security strategies might lead to abuses, stating, "She will be a replica of her father."

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I swear (...) that I will faithfully exercise the office of president of the republic that the nation has entrusted to me for the period 2026-2031.