Conservative leader Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru’s president on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after winning a razor-thin runoff election by fewer than 50,000 votes. The 51-year-old takes office as the country’s ninth president in a decade, inheriting deep political polarization, economic challenges, and severe security concerns.
Conservative leader Keiko Fujimori officially assumed the presidency in Lima on Tuesday, securing a victory in the June presidential runoff by a margin of fewer than 50,000 votes. Her inauguration marks a notable regional shift in South America toward the conservative wing, aligning Peru with a broader continental movement.
The 51-year-old politician took the oath of office. Her ascension follows an electoral process where her opponent, left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez, challenged the results due to alleged irregularities in overseas consular voting, though electoral authorities dismissed his complaints.
Security Crises and a Vowed Military-Led Crackdown
Stepping into a nation grappling with surging crime, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, Fujimori used her inaugural address to outline a hardline security strategy. Addressing Congress, she announced that the military would step in to restore order in volatile regions.
“During states of emergency, the armed forces will temporarily take the lead in security operations” until they can “return these territories to the citizens.”
Keiko Fujimori, President of Peru
Her campaign messaging drew heavily on anti-crime models from abroad. Fujimori previously pledged to implement policies adopted by Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele, including the construction of a megaprison modeled after El Salvador’s Cecot penitentiary. To protect judicial officials handling dangerous criminal trials, her administration plans to introduce reforms allowing judges to hide their identities.
Public sentiment regarding these sweeping security measures is deeply divided. Retiree Cesar Fuentes expressed apprehension to reporters, stating, She is going to be a replica of her father
. Conversely, Nelly Vega voiced strong support, noting, We’re in a country with a lot of terror
and expressing hope that the new administration is going to lead us to something better
.
Confronting State Abandonment, Extortion, and Economic Pressures
In her address to the legislature, Fujimori described inheriting a country marked by institutional decay and neglect.
Highlighting the pervasive threat of extortion facing the nation, Fujimori focused on the need to improve security.
To ease domestic pressures, the president announced a 15% increase in the national minimum wage and vowed to reorganize social services to combat rural malnutrition. Her government also faces the immediate threat of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which meteorologists predict will be the most intense and devastating since 1998.
Divided Congress and Protests Overshadow the Inauguration
Fujimori assumes power amidst intense political friction. Although her party, Fuerza Popular, and its ally Popular Renovation will hold half of the Senate seats, right-wing parties still fall short of the majority required to push through the new president’s initiatives. Political analyst Jeffrey Radzinsky, director of the consultancy GFP, noted that Fuerza Popular remains a party with deep popular roots that maintained a presence in Congress.
Outside the parliament building in Lima, tensions boiled over during the ceremony. Opposition lawmakers and relatives of victims protested the inauguration by holding photographs of 50 civilians killed during anti-government demonstrations in late 2022 and early 2023 following the ouster of former President Pedro Castillo. Demonstrators demanded accountability and the creation of an investigative commission, while families of victims from past decades voiced deep distrust of the incoming administration.
The shadow of her father, former President Alberto Fujimori, also hung over the proceedings. The elder Fujimori governed through the 1990s, stabilizing the economy and defeating terror groups before his government took an authoritarian turn, leading to his imprisonment for human rights abuses. Following a presidential pardon in December 2023, he died in September 2024.
What Lies Ahead for Peru’s Ninth President in a Decade
Meanwhile, citizens and regional observers watch to see whether the administration can bridge polarized political factions or if legislative deadlock will persist.
