Fujimori takes on Peru's presidency with security and national unity as her main challenges

MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Wednesday, July 15th 2026 - 07:07 UTC

Fujimori will govern a country fractured by inequality, ideological divisions, and territorial tensions, with the Andean south as the main focus of resistance to her authority

Keiko Fujimori, 51, received on Wednesday in Lima the credentials confirming her as Peru's president-elect, a post she will be sworn into on July 28, the country's independence day. She will be the first woman to reach the executive office through the ballot box, arriving after a career defined by persistence: she won on her fourth attempt, following three consecutive runoff defeats.

Her victory in the June 7 runoff was decided by a narrow margin of 49,641 votes over left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez, of Juntos por el Perú. Fujimori took 50.135% of valid votes to Sánchez's 49.865%. Sánchez, who won the most votes within national territory, turned to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights alleging irregularities in the overseas vote, which tilted the outcome in Fujimori's favor. The National Elections Board rejected his annulment request and proclaimed the results on July 3.