Fujimorism: Peru continues the legacy of an authoritarian tyrant.
Keiko Fujimori was born on the 25th of May 1975, as the oldest daughter of politicians Alberto Fujimori and Susana Higuchi. Their marriage fell apart as Higuchi accused her husband of not only engaging in corruption but also of torturing her for an extended period of time. Keiko Fujimori downplayed her mother’s abuse allegations and remained close to her father until his death, even serving as First Lady at the age of 19. She believes in her fathers legacy to this day despite the proven human rights violations and corruption, maintaining that his presidency was the best in Peruvian history. When he attempted to return as president for a third unconstitutional term, she backed his attempt, claiming it was warranted. Keiko Fujimori won the 2026 Peruvian presidential election despite this, and despite her campaign that followed her father’s ideology and promises for Peru.
Fujimorism
As a politician, Keiko Fujimori represents Fujimorism: the political ideology begun by her father. She benefits from it directly, with the personality cult around Alberto Fujimori extending to include her within it, especially in the wake of the elder Fujimori's death in 2024.
Elected as president in 1990, Alberto Fujimori began a campaign of criminalising left-wing opponents and activists. As he expanded the definition of terrorism in order to persecute said individuals, he simultaneously elevated himself as Peru’s saviour from the threat of leftist ideology. In 1993 Fujimori and his followers rewrote the Peruvian Constitution, and his version is still in use today.
The political ideology of the movement is heavily right wing; while Keiko Fujimori refers to her party as centre-right, the policies demonstrated are instead emblematic of the far-right. Characterised by authoritarian tendencies, anti-communist repression and free-market capitalism, Fujimorism fits the definition of a neoliberal far-right party. However, according to Peruvian sociologist Aníbal Quijano, it does not fit the definition of a fascist party (which it is often described as by media and online commentators). Quijano argues that the movement lacks the nationalist character and the national mythology that is intrinsic to fascist movements.
Fujimorism experienced a brief fall from grace in the 2000s, with Alberto fleeing to Japan in order to escape corruption charges. These charges expanded to include illegal search and seizure in 2007, then again to include human rights violations in 2009. Both of these were tied to the campaign of persecuting the left in the 90s, especially the 2009 charge which was a result of his involvement in the kidnappings and murders committed by Grupo Colina (a part of the Peruvian Army reporting to the Army Intelligence Service). Furthermore, it was exposed that Fujimori was behind a forced sterilisation campaign that targeted indigenous women, a campaign that his daughter Keiko was alleged to also be involved in. The movement was revived quickly, by 2010, with the founding of the Fuerza Popular (Popular Force) by Albert's daughter, Keiko Fujimori.
Fuerza Popular
Established by Keiko Fujimori in 2010, the Fuerza Popular website highlights that the party “continues the legacy of Alberto Fujimori”. They fail to mention however that the year prior he had been convicted for the murder of 25 people. These murders had been carried out based on his orders while he was president, for political reasons.
Since its inception Fuerza Popular has gained a large foothold within the Peruvian government, its influence strong enough to overturn pro-social and anti-corruption reforms. Despite the government of tyrant Dina Boluarte being widely unpopular, with disapproval ratings in some places being reported to be as high as 96%, Fuerza Popular unanimously backed Boluarte and blocked the motion to impeach her. Boluarte, her family and administration have proven involvement in corruption, police brutality, and scandals such as the poisoning of drinking water available to schoolchildren. In 2025, the party was spiraling out of control with its conduct and scandals to the point of being reported for anti-democratic conduct. The report was filed by then Attorney General Delia Espinoza. Following this and other reports, Espinoza was promptly removed from her position by the Congress of the Republic with the motion for removal pushed heavily by Fuerza Popular.
2021 Election controversy
Fuerza Popular and the Fujimori family have been involved in numerous election controversies throughout the years. Apart from the most recent elections this year, in 2021 a huge scandal erupted that resulted in public protests. Keiko Fujimori and Fuerza Popular alleged after losing the election that the election was fraudulent due to deceased people casting votes. In fact the elections had been disrupted across numerous polling stations, with some individuals linked to Fuerza Popular caught casting multiple votes for Fujimori. In the end, Fujimori’s opponent Pedro Castillo was recognised as president regardless of Fujimori’s accusations.
During every presidential election in which she is a candidate, Keiko Fujimori and her family come under fire for their involvement with drug trafficking, organised violence and anti-democratic action, yet they continue to face no significant repercussions for actions that are widely known.
Implications for Peru
Peru is facing, in the words of Alberto Fujimori’s political opponent Mario Vargas Llosa, a “catastrophic scenario”. Even a man known to represent liberalism and the elites of cities such as Lima found Fujimorism to be a danger to the country.
What postulates did Fujimori put forward as part of her election campaign, and what do they mean for Peru?
The safety of Peruvians is at stake. A key feature of her campaign was increasing military involvement in policing crime, coupled with the motion to build megaprisons modelled after the El Salvadorian CECOT. With policing already disproportionately affecting impoverished working class neighbourhoods, the increase foreshadows further crackdowns. Poverty breeds crime as a means of survival, and in a community abandoned by the state for many criminal activities are the only way to ensure their families are safe and fed.
Simultaneously, judges are granted anonymity: officially for their protection, however in practice this makes it easier for miscarriages of justice to be carried out without greater repercussions for the judges. Anonymity keeps corrupt judges out of the public eye, and as such out of the hands of those campaigning against miscarriages of justice.
Economically, Fujimori maintains that Peru will remain a market-driven economy, with a focus on encouraging private and foreign investment. This is portrayed as a positive for ordinary Peruvians, when in actuality a select minority of private business owners will see a return while the ordinary people receive nothing. In fact, they will receive less: as private investment spending increases, state expenditures towards public services will be cut. A specifically concerning area targeted by the cuts is the state oil company Norperuano, which will be privately managed.
Alongside privatisation, regulatory bodies will be defunded, giving more liberties for the private companies involved.
Conclusion
Fujimorism, is at its core a problematic ideology that prioritised external foreign investments and privatisation over national development and the wellbeing of the Peruvian people. Fascist or not, the movement and the politicians subscribing to it undermined Peruvian democracy through ruthless and brutal persecution of opposition movements and a widespread ideological propaganda campaign. This trend continues as demonstrated by corruption scandals, the enabling of state violence against the impoverished and the selling out of state assets, a drop in the sea that is Fujimorism. Peru is in danger, with the Peruvian indigenous and working class communities especially at risk. We haven't seen the worst of it yet.
