Alberto Fujimori, the 86-year-old former president of Peru who was influential in the 1990s for promoting economic growth but later gained notoriety for violating human rights, passed away on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, it was announced that Fujimori, who had been battling cancer, was in critical condition. His other children signed a statement on X announcing his death, written by his daughter Keiko Fujimori.
Born to Japanese immigrants, Fujimori initially served as a chancellor at a farming university before being elected president in 1990. He quickly made a name for himself as a skilled politician who achieved significant economic reforms.
Peru's economy significantly stabilized under his direction, addressing hyperinflation, selling off state-owned businesses, and lowering trade barriers. During his presidency, Peru's economic stability was made possible by these measures.
Abimael Guzman, the Maoist Shining Path insurgent leader, was also captured during Fujimori's presidency. Reducing the insurrection that was endangering Peru's stability required this triumph.
Despite these accomplishments, Fujimori's authoritarian methods were criticized, leading to the 1992 shutdown of Congress and power-centralized constitutional revisions. He was seen as an autocrat by many Peruvians as a result of these measures.
Corruption issues plagued his presidency, including footage showing his advisor, Vladimiro Montesinos, buying off lawmakers. The controversy and his election to a third term in 2000 caused a great deal of public disenchantment.
Following revelations of corruption in 2000, Fujimori resigned via fax and fled to Japan. Later on, Montesinos, his counselor, was apprehended and imprisoned due to corruption.
In 2005, Fujimori returned to Peru seeking forgiveness and political comeback but was detained in Chile and extradited to Peru in 2007. In 2009, he was convicted of human rights abuses and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
During his imprisonment, Fujimori's health deteriorated significantly, and he was often hospitalized. In 2017, he was briefly pardoned by then-president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, but the pardon was later overturned.
Fujimori was released again in December 2023 due to his declining health, including stomach ulcers, hypertension, and cancer. He had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor earlier in May 2024.
His daughter Keiko Fujimori has been a staunch defender of his legacy and has run for president multiple times, advocating for his pardoning and defending his constitutional reforms.
On the day of his death, supporters gathered outside his residence to mourn and express their grief. Many were hopeful for his return to politics, expressing regret over his passing.
Alberto Fujimori was born on July 28, 1938, in Lima, Peru, on the country's Independence Day. He was a mathematician and agricultural engineer before entering politics.
Fujimori's rise to prominence was marked by his surprising victory over Mario Vargas Llosa in the 1990 presidential election, with significant support from Peru's Indigenous and mixed-race populations.
His presidency included drastic economic measures such as the "Fuji-shock," which involved removing subsidies for essential goods to control inflation. While initially unpopular, these measures eventually stabilized the economy.
Fujimori was known for his bold political strategies, including a successful military operation in 1997 to end a hostage crisis by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement. The operation resulted in minimal casualties among hostages.
His political career was also characterized by a personal and public fallout with his first wife, Susana Higuchi. This led him to name his daughter Keiko as the first lady during his presidency.
Fujimori's legacy remains complex, with supporters viewing him as a transformative leader who restored Peru's economy, while critics condemn his authoritarian practices and human rights violations.
His family has been vocal in defending his legacy, with Keiko Fujimori continuing to push for his rehabilitation and addressing his political and legal battles.
Fujimori's impact on Peru was profound, with both positive economic changes and controversial political decisions shaping his tenure and legacy.
His death marks the end of a significant chapter in Peru's modern history, reflecting the tumultuous nature of his presidency and the ongoing debates about his contributions and controversies.
The fact that his family is still working to keep him influential in politics while supporters are still grieving his death highlights the conflicted and persistent opinions about his leadership.
Even after his contentious presidency, Fujimori's impact on the political and economic climate in Peru is still a major topic for debate and study.
