Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president on Tuesday, promising a tough crackdown on rising crime and organised criminal activity that has gripped the South American nation.
Fujimori secured victory in June’s presidential runoff by fewer than 50,000 votes, succeeding on her fourth attempt to win the presidency.
In her inaugural address to Congress, the 51-year-old announced plans to deploy the military to areas heavily affected by crime, drug trafficking and illegal mining.
“During states of emergency, the armed forces will temporarily take the lead in security operations until these territories are returned to the citizens,” she said.
Her inauguration was marked by protests from a group of left-wing lawmakers, who walked out of the ceremony. Fujimori’s swearing-in also marks Peru’s ninth presidency in a decade, underscoring the country’s prolonged political instability.
Among the foreign leaders attending the ceremony were Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, Uruguay’s Yamandu Orsi, as well as representatives from Chile and Bolivia.
Fujimori’s campaign was heavily shaped by the legacy of her father, former president Alberto Fujimori, who ruled Peru in the 1990s before being jailed for corruption and crimes against humanity linked to his government’s anti-terrorism campaign.
Her administration has pledged tougher measures against crime, including deporting undocumented migrants, establishing courts with anonymous judges and requiring prisoners to work to pay for their upkeep.
The proposals have divided public opinion. Some Peruvians welcomed the tougher stance on security, while others expressed concern that it could lead to human rights abuses similar to those seen during her father’s presidency.
In addition to tackling crime, Fujimori has pledged to prepare the country for the expected El Niño weather phenomenon, which forecasters say could be the most severe since 1998.
Although Fujimori’s Popular Force (Fuerza Popular) party is the largest bloc in Congress, it does not hold enough seats to pass legislation on its own, meaning the new president will need support from other parties to advance her agenda.
She has also called for political reconciliation after a decade of instability that saw Peru cycle through eight leaders before her election.
However, families of victims of state violence remain sceptical. On the eve of her inauguration, more than 100 people held a vigil in the capital demanding justice for alleged abuses committed during the Fujimori administration in the 1990s.
“We expect nothing good from her,” said Marly Anzualdo, whose brother disappeared during her father’s rule. “We have spent many years fighting for justice, and we know how they operate.”
