July 29, 2026 [LINK / comment]
Peru 2026: The Fujimori political dynasty is reborn
Yesterday marked the 205th anniversary of Peru's independence from Spain (1821), and every five years on this date a new president is inaugurated. This time, Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori (who died in 2024), took the oath of office. Today she was the central focus of the series of parades through the streets of downtown Lima. She won a run-off election in late June by a very narrow margin over left-wing Roberto Sanchez, and it took several days for the vote count to be certified. There were grumblings about irregularities, but apparently the result has been widely acknowledged as legitimate.
Keiko Fujimori's victory mainly reflects the growing concern in Peru with crime and street violence. Most recent presidents of Peru have been left-wing, and in some cases fearful of offending the poorer classes from which crime is spawned. She pledged to restore order, which was probably the biggest accomplishment of her father a generation ago. When Alberto Fujimori was president (from 1990 until 2000), his conservative populist party was called "Cambio 90," or "Change 90," referring to the year of his first presidential campaign. The Fujimorist political movement became rebranded as "Popular Force" as his daughter repeatedly ran for president, falling short in her first three attempts before finally succeeding.
Although Keiko Fujimori has insisted that she has learned the lessons of her father's mistakes (indulging in corrupt practices and abusing human rights), much remains to be seen. For Peru's business sector, she is no doubt preferable to the alternative offered by Roberto Sanchez. Peru overcame terrible economic stagnation and chaos from the 1980s that was to a large extent the result of a left-wing populist president (Alan Garcia) embarking on reckless projects without serious financial analysis. Thanks to Fujimori's stabilization policies in the 1990s, Peru embarked on a spectacular period of economic growth that has greatly modernized the country. Can Keiko Fujimori restore those "golden years"? In any event, the Peru page has been updated (for the first time in several years!) with chronology items and a few photos. (NOTE: I have begun updating some of the other country pages as well, concentrating first on the ones I have traveled to.)
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas (March 2004); Chorrillos, the seaside area southeast of Lima; Palace of Government in Lima; a residential neighborhood in Ventanilla Alta, north of Lima. (February 2017)
Impeached Peruvian presidents
As noted by the Washington Post on July 3, Keiko Fujimori will be the tenth Peruvian president to serve in the past ten years (including some who served briefly on a "provisional" basis), a period of extraordinary tumult that tested the country's institutions to the limit. Here is a brief summary of the challenges to executive authority from the legislative branch:
- 2018: Congress removed Pres. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is removed by Congress on corruption charges, replaced by Martin Vizcarra, as a consequence of the Odebrecht scandal.
- Nov. 2020: Congress removed Pres. Martin Vizcarra after he ordered a drastic curfew in Apr. due to covid-19. Replaced by Manuel Merino and then Sagasti. In Nov. 2025 he was sentenced to 14 years in prison on corruption charges related to the Odebrecht case.
- 2022: Congress removed Pres. Jose Pedro Castillo (left wing) in Dec., after he tried to dissolve Congress, replaced by Dina Boluarte.
- Oct. 2025: Congress removed Pres. Dina Boluarte (left wing) to prevent her from assuming dictatorial power, replaced by Jose Jeri.
- Feb. 2026: Congress removed Pres. Jose Jeri, apparently out of partisan distrust, replaced by Jose Balcazar.
While there was some justification for some of these removals, the sheer number (five within the space of nine years) was an indication that the balance of power between the three branches of government in Peru was out of whack. In the United States, we have had four occasions when the president was impeached by the House, but only once (in 1866, against Andrew Johnson) was the Senate's vote to convict even close. When the U.S. Constitution was drafted, it was understood that dividing the legislative branch into two chambers would keep its powers in check. Accordingly, of the 50 states, only one (Nebraska) has a unicameral legislature.
When the current constitution was drafted in 1993, in the aftermath of a political and economic catastrophe that left the existence of the Peruvian state in question, it was decided to eliminate the Senate, and have all legislative functions be exercised by a one-chamber Congress. After the inherent flaw in such a unicameral system became obvious, Peruvians recently agreed on the need to restore the "upper chamber" -- the Senate. This was carried out earlier this month, and Keiko Fujimori's party will have (in conjunction with parliamentary allies) a majority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Interior of the Peruvian Congress, now known once again by its former name: the Chamber of Deputies. (Feb. 28, 2017)
Interior of the Peruvian Senate, which had been closed for 34 years but was recently restored by a constitutional amendment. (Feb. 28, 2017)
Another curious aspect of Peru's political system is that they have TWO vice presidents. The extra backup position came in very handy during the past ten years when the president was being replaced so often!
NOTE: This is my first blog post about Latin America in many years. I intend to resume occasional blog commentaries about politics in Latin America, after I finish updating the rest of the Latin America country pages.
