Keiko Fujimori sworn in as Peru's President
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- Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru's President on July 28, 2026, after winning the June runoff by fewer than 50,000 votes, making her the country's ninth President in a decade — only three of whom were elected by popular vote
- Popular Force party and ally Popular Renovation will hold half the Senate seats once the new legislature is installed, making it harder for opposing legislators to attempt removal
- Fujimori pledged an "iron fist" anti-crime platform modeled on Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's policies, including a megaprison modeled after El Salvador's Cecot penitentiary, and announced a 15% minimum wage increase
- Opposition lawmakers protested outside parliament during the ceremony, demanding reversal of recently passed laws they say weaken anti-organized crime efforts and a commission to investigate 50 civilian deaths during 2022-2023 anti-government protests
- Alberto Fujimori, Keiko's father and former Peruvian President, was imprisoned for human rights abuses committed by the military under his rule, pardoned in December 2023, and died in September 2024
- Keiko Fujimori's victory, alongside Colombia's Abelardo de la Espriella and Chile's Jose Antonio Kast, reflects a broader South American conservative shift — seven major conservative presidential wins since Trump's January 2025 inauguration
Why it matters: Fujimori takes office as Peru's ninth president in a decade with her party and its main ally controlling half the Senate, enough to block removal attempts. Her Bukele-inspired security agenda and 15% minimum wage hike now compete with opposition demands to reverse laws critics say weaken organized-crime prosecutions.
