Exit polls show that the candidate leads voting intentions and should go to the second round
The favorite candidate in Peru’s presidential elections, Keiko Fujimoripromised expel immigrants in an irregular situation, attract North American investment e expand the wave of right-wing governments in Latin Americaduring an exclusive interview with AFP on the eve of this Sunday’s elections (12).
Daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, Keiko is running for the position for the fourth timeand commits to “regain order” in the first 100 days of a possible government, in a country ravaged by crime.
Elections in Peru
At 50 years old, Keiko has advantage in voting intentions with more than 16%, . If the projection is confirmed, the candidate will compete in the second round on June 7th.
“My role, if I am elected president, is to motivate the United States to return to participating more actively [na economia peruana]”, declared Keiko.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, seeks new allies to reduce China’s influence in the region, the main trading partner of several countries, including Peru.
The Andean nation is the second largest recipient of Chinese investments in Latin Americasecond only to Brazil, with at least US$29 billion between 2005 and 2025, according to the monitor China Global Investment Tracker.
“Latin America is turning towards a current in which freedom, investments and regaining control and security are prioritized”, said Keiko about the rise of the right with names like Javier Milei (Argentina), José Antonio Kast (Chile), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador) and Rodrigo Paz (Bolivia).
“Colombia and Peru are missing,” he added.
Keiko Fujimori ran for president in the 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections. He lost everyone in the second round.
‘Order a Fujimori, here I am!’
Administrator graduated from the United States, Keiko Fujimori focused his campaign on tackling the rise in crime with a tough handwhich she associates with illegal immigration.
The largest foreign community in the country is Venezuelanwith 1.6 million immigrants, of whom 14% do not have authorized residence.
“We will expel undocumented citizens and hope that it will be possible to make a humanitarian corridor so that those who were asked to leave can return,” said Keiko.
It also indicated that will ask Congress for approval to send military personnel to prisons and install courts with “faceless judges” to judge infractions, a measure of his father’s governmentthe former Peruvian president, from 1990 to 2000, Alberto Fujimori.
The figure of Alberto Fujimori, who died in 2024, divides Peruvian society. Remembered for defeating the Shining Path guerrilla, which began an armed struggle to impose a Maoist regime, the former president was sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights violations and corruption.
“Time is putting things in their place and, today, when Peru is bleeding from criminals and extortionists, what They ask for a Fujimorihere I am!”, Keiko told AFP.
At the end of 2023, Alberto Fujimori was released by the Constitutional Courtdespite a joint decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
“My father brought order, economic growth. I worked with the most popular sectors. I have the upper hand and I hope to overcome it”, he said.
Political instability in Peru
Peru is dragging its feet through a deep political crisis with eight different presidents in a decadefour of them dismissed by Parliament. Keiko Fujimori promises to be conciliatory.
“I also made mistakes, when I had moments of a lot of confrontation. And, through that, I learned to prioritize dialogue and to foster consensus”, he declared.
*AFP
