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Keiko Fujimori, the conservative politician and daughter of the former president, was declared the winner Friday of Peru’s presidential runoff election.
Fujimori, 51, will take office later this month as Peru’s ninth president in 10 years. This was her fourth bid for the position, following years of political instability in the country.
Fujimori thanked her supporters in a post on X announcing the conclusion of the election.
STATE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATES KEIKO FUJIMORI AS PERU’S PRESIDENT-ELECT FOLLOWING RAZOR-THIN VOTE COUNT
“I receive with profound gratitude the trust that millions of Peruvians have placed in me. A new stage begins. We assume it with responsibility, humility, and a deep sense of duty,” she wrote. “Each day of this transition process is an opportunity to listen, engage in dialogue, and arrive prepared at the start of the new government. Through these accounts, we will share the progress of this stage and the work we have been carrying out. I invite you to join us.”
Peru’s top election authority certified the results Friday. Fujimori received 9,223,000 votes, or 50.14% of the total, while nationalist congressman Roberto Sánchez earned over 9,173,000 votes, or 49.87%, the Associated Press reported.
She made it to the runoff after defeating 33 other candidates in April.
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Her election came amid concerns from voters about surging crime, especially extortion by violent organized crime gangs. Fujimori has pledged to act tough on crime with an “iron fist.”
She is the daughter of the late Alberto Fujimori, the former president whose government in the 1990s defeated the Shining Path extremist rebel group but also took an authoritarian turn.
He was convicted in 2009 of human rights abuses in the fight against the rebels, and later on corruption charges. His legacy within Peru remains deeply divisive.
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On Tuesday, the State Department congratulated the younger Fujimori.
“The Trump administration looks forward to deepening collaboration with the Fujimori administration to advance security cooperation and to strengthen bilateral cooperation on investment and trade in our region,” the statement read.
