Keiko Fujimori revives her father's legacy to seduce a Peru gripped by fear of crime

As the second round of the presidential election in Peru approaches, Keiko Fujimori is increasingly openly banking on the political legacy of her father, former president Alberto Fujimori, in a context marked by a sharp rise in crime and violence.

Having reached the second round for the fourth consecutive time, Keiko Fujimori will face left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez in June. According to the first-round results, she obtained 17% of the vote, boosted in particular by a very firm security platform.

Long wary of the controversial image of her father, convicted of human rights violations before his death, the conservative candidate now seems to fully embrace this legacy. Her campaign highlights the policies implemented in the 1990s under the presidency of Alberto Fujimori to combat Maoist insurgency.

Before the first round of voting on April 12, Keiko Fujimori visited her father's grave, a highly symbolic gesture. She compared today's criminal gangs and extortion networks to the insurgent movements fought in the past and promised a "frontal war" against crime.

The candidate proposes, among other things, strengthening the role of the military, increasing the use of intelligence services, and adopting stricter anti-terrorism laws. Her team believes that the country's security situation is pushing a segment of the electorate to demand radical measures.

In Peru, acts of extortion, gang-related violence and organized crime have increased sharply in recent years, fueling a climate of concern in several regions of the country, particularly in the working-class neighborhoods of Lima.

“Fujimorism remains deeply rooted in the collective memory,” Luis Galarreta, running mate and close ally of Keiko Fujimori, told Reuters. According to him, the policies implemented in the 1990s continue to be seen by some Peruvians as having “saved the country” from insecurity and instability.