Keiko Fujimori received the credentials of Peru’s elected president and promised “reconciliation” after a decade of political crisis

At the event held in a theater in Lima, the head of the National Election Jury gave a document to the leader of Fuerza Popular that certifies her victory by almost 50,000 votes over the progressive candidate Roberto Sánchez, of Together for Peru, in the June 7 runoff.

The president-elect, 51 years old, daughter of the late president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), said that her government will be made up of “renowned technicians, regardless of their party militancy,” and will solve the country’s urgent problems. He also pointed out that his management will be accountable for public resources.

Fujimori said that he will combat malnutrition that affects 12.1% of children under five years of age, as well as poverty that affects 25.7% of the population, that is, almost 9 million people who cannot afford to cover the cost of the basic consumer basket that includes food, essential goods and services.

He also indicated that he believes “deeply in reconciliation.” “I have learned from my mistakes and successes, from the difficult moments, from the happy moments, I have learned to ask for forgiveness, but above all to forgive,” he said amid a chorus of supporters who shouted “yes it was possible” and “Keiko brave, here are your people.”

He added that at the end of his mandate he will render “an account before God and history and I will do so with my head held high because you can be sure that I will have put all my effort and will to move our Peru forward.”

Earlier, Fujimori – dressed in a cream-colored tailored suit – had left her house ten blocks from the Grand National Theater accompanied by her two daughters, ages 18 and 17. They got into a white van from a car rental company. The leader greeted, but did not make any statements to the press.

When he takes power on July 28, Fujimori will be the first woman to become president through elections in 205 years of republic. The presidential term is for five years.

Peru was previously governed by another woman Dina Boluarte (2022-2025) – who succeeded, as vice president, former president Pedro Castillo (2021-2022), who was removed by Congress. Boluarte’s government was the most unpopular in Peru.

Fujimori has promised to govern “for five years,” unlike his father who began his government in 1990 but sought to remain in power and was re-elected in 1995 and 2000. He then left Peru in late 2000 amid corruption scandals and fled to Japan. He was later extradited from Chile, where he had arrived unexpectedly, and was later convicted of corruption and murder. He was released from prison after a presidential pardon in 2023 and died free in 2024.

Outside the Grand National Theater, more than 300 people arrived with Peruvian flags, some with orange jackets, the color of Fuerza Popular, but also the same one that former President Fujimori used since his first presidential campaign in 1990 under the motto “honesty, technology and work.”

Consuelo Castellares, a lawyer who came from the Andean region of Huancavelica, told The Associated Press that Fujimori’s main concern should be education. He indicated that in the last 25 years school teachers “have brainwashed students,” which is why there is now strong opposition to it.

“I would tell Keiko, don’t be like your dad because he left the terrorists who are in the State today dying, you have to take a tough line with those people who have brainwashed and generated polarization,” said Castellares, who added that after the post-Fujimori governments there is a strong “absence of the State.”

Keiko Fujimori will begin her administration amid protests by Sánchezwho last week reluctantly accepted the victory of the conservative in the runoff where they faced each other. Fujimori triumphed with the key votes of Peruvians abroad; Within the territory the progressive won, according to official data.

Sánchez called for a demonstration this afternoon through the streets of Lima demanding the release of former President Castillo, sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for conspiracy to rebel after being arrested in December 2022.

Months later there were demonstrations in his favor repressed by the police and military that left 50 civilians murdered.

Sánchez will also ask for justice for those protesters killed by security forces during the administration of Boluarte, a government supported by Fujimori’s party.