Fujimorism

Keiko Fujimori, contemporary head of Fujimorism.

The lack of a stable political-party system in Peru as well as in other countries of Latin America has led many times to the emergence in the political arena of strong personalities without overt ideological affiliations.[2] In Peru in the 1980s, the "surprise" 1990 election of Fujimori to the office of the President led to a constitutional crisis in 1992, followed by "extraordinary measures" ostensibly directed against domestic terrorists. Following the 1992 crisis, the Constitution of Peru was rewritten by Fujimori and his supporters and is currently used today. This constitution would later come to benefit Alberto Fujimori's children.[1]

Fujimori took refuge in Japan when faced with charges of corruption in 2000. On arriving in Japan he attempted to resign his presidency via fax, but his resignation was rejected by the Congress of the Republic, which preferred to remove him from office by the process of impeachment. In December 2007, Fujimori was convicted of ordering an illegal search and seizure, and was sentenced to six years in prison.[3][4][5] The Supreme Court upheld the decision upon his appeal.[6] In April 2009 Fujimori was convicted of human rights violations and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in killings and kidnappings by the Grupo Colina death squad during his government's battle against leftist guerrillas in the 1990s.

Following Fujimori's fall from power, his self-exile to Japan, his extradition back to Peru and his subsequent trial and imprisonment, there emerged political parties that continued to proclaim to follow the legacy of Alberto Fujimori. The most prominent of these groups that formed in the aftermath of Alberto's downfall is Popular Force (Fuerza Popular), a political party that was created and is led by the former president's daughter Keiko Fujimori, a presidential candidate in 2011 and again in 2016.

Kenji and Keiko Fujimori

As a result of the 2016 Peruvian general election, Keiko Fujimori lost the presidential race, though her Popular Force party gained control of Peru's congress while economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski won the presidency.[1] Shortly after the election, Fujimorist congress immediately began to politically attack President Kuczynski, beginning two impeachment proceedings against the president; a failed attempt in 2017 and another attempt in 2018.[1]

Shortly after the first impeachment vote failed, President Kuczynski pardoned Alberto Fujimori, with Kuczynski, citing Fujimori's health and age as the main reason for his pardoning.[7] Days before the second vote was to occur, Kenji Fujimori – who was then still part of his sister's party Popular Force – was involved in the Kenjivideos scandal where he was seen attempting to buy the votes in favor of President Kuczynski to avoid the president's impeachment.[8][9][10] As a result of the scandal, President Kuczynski resigned the presidency.

Following this series of events, First Vice President Martín Vizcarra was sworn into the presidency by the Fujimorist-led congress. During this ceremony, some Peruvians took to the streets to protest against the government, calling for the removal of all politicians.[11] Others have stated that the attacks against President Kuczynski was a conspiracy of the Fujimorists to gain control of Peru's political system once more. Soon after taking office, President Vizcarra made attempts to remove corruption within Peru, proposing a national referendum effort surrounding the country's legislative branch and election funding 28 July 2018.[12][13] On 3 October 2018, Alberto Fujimori's pardon was overturned by a Peruvian court[14] and a week later on 10 October 2018, Keiko Fujimori was detained by police as part of an investigation surrounding the Odebrecht scandal and money laundering allegations that involved her 2011 presidential campaign.[15]

During their majority in congress, Fujimorists "earned a reputation as hardline obstructionists for blocking initiatives popular with Peruvians aimed at curbing the nation’s rampant corruption" according to the Associated Press.[16]

Alberto and Keiko Fujimori in 1995

Fujimorism is characterized by its social conservatism, as well as its strong opposition to groups of left and far-left[17] that identify with socialist Marxist militancy.[18] The principal foundations of the regime were staunch anti-communism, forceful anti-terrorist actions, pro-free market policies and disregard for political institutions.[19] In terms of the decision-making process, a logic of closed and isolated decision-making at the top became the major characteristic of Fujimori governance.[20] Fujimorism is considered neoliberal economically as it minimized the role of the state functions through privatizations of public companies and by signing contracts with transnational companies to support foreign investment in large sectors.[21]

Self-proclaimed Fujimorist parties and electoral coalitions include Cambio 90, Sí Cumple, Peru 2000, Alliance for the Future (2006–2010) and Popular Force (since 2010).