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Keiko Fujimori Sworn In as Peru’s President and Declares State of Emergency

Her immediate order to place the military in crime hotspots signals a security‑first agenda that critics warn could weaken democratic checks.

Overview

  • Keiko Fujimori was sworn in on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, and her first act as president was to declare a state of emergency with the military given temporary control in regions with high crime.
  • Her June 7 runoff victory was razor thin, with official results showing 50.13% to 49.86%, and leftist rival Roberto Sánchez has not conceded and plans to legally contest the outcome.
  • The administration says it will push a hardline package on crime, stronger police powers, tighter immigration controls and pro‑market policies aimed at restoring public order and investor confidence.
  • The inauguration drew several right‑wing regional leaders while a group of left‑wing deputies walked out in protest, and street tensions and political polarization are already rising.
  • Fujimori’s rise revives the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori, whose 1990s rule combined anti‑insurgency gains with authoritarian abuses, and analysts warn the new measures could deepen institutional erosion in a country that has had nine heads of state in roughly ten years.