Keiko Fujimori sworn in as Peru's president
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- Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru's president after winning the June runoff by fewer than 50,000 votes, becoming the country's ninth president in a decade — only three of Peru's last presidents were elected by popular vote
- Fujimori's Popular Force party and its main ally Popular Renovation will hold half the senate seats once the new legislature is installed, making removal by opposing legislators difficult
- Fujimori pledged an 'iron fist' crime-fighting approach modeled after Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, including construction of a megaprison modeled on El Salvador's Cecot penitentiary
- Fujimori announced a 15% increase to the nation's minimum wage and said the military will 'temporarily' lead security operations in crime-afflicted areas
- Opposition lawmakers protested outside parliament during the ceremony, holding photos of 50 civilians killed during 2022-2023 anti-government protests following the removal of former President Pedro Castillo
- Fujimori's victory is part of a conservative shift in South America — seven major presidential elections have gone to conservatives since U.S. President Donald Trump's January 2025 inauguration, driven by concerns over crime, immigration, and slow economic growth
- Fujimori is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was imprisoned for human rights abuses under his rule before being pardoned in December 2023
Why it matters: Fujimori takes office with the narrowest mandate of Peru's recent elected presidents — fewer than 50,000 votes — but with half the senate locked in for her coalition, she faces lower removal risk than her recent predecessors. Her 'iron fist' platform lifts a Bukele-style security model into a country where 50 civilians were killed in 2022-2023 protests, signaling that the Latin American conservative wave now extends to Peru's deeply polarized electorate.
