00:01Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru's president on Tuesday, becoming the latest conservative
00:08leader elected in Latin America as voters across the region increasingly turned to the
00:13right amid rising crime, sluggish economic growth and political instability.
00:19The 51-year-old daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori is Peru's first elected
00:25female head of state.
00:26Her victory in June's presidential runoff marks the return of one of Peru's most influential
00:31and polarizing political dynasties, capping a political comeback after several failed
00:37presidential bids.
00:38In her inaugural address, Fujimori pledged to govern with firmness while listening to the
00:44people and healing divisions following a closely contested election marred by fraud allegations.
00:50She also called for the country to confront its challenges honestly, saying Peru must
00:56face reality without anesthesia, without makeup, and without half-truths.
01:18Fujimori announced she will seek special legislative powers to fast-track anti-crime measures and implement
01:25policies to lessen the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is already affecting
01:30key sectors of the economy. She also pledged to strengthen the Pacific Alliance, the trade bloc
01:36comprising Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, to improve regional competitiveness and expand access to Asian markets.
01:44Her election extends Latin America's recent shift to the right, joining conservative leaders including
01:50Argentina's Javier Millet, Chile's Jose Antonio Cast, Ecuador's Daniel Noboa, and Bolivia's Rodrigo Paz.
01:59Outside parliament, opposition lawmakers and relatives of victims killed during anti-government protests in
02:05late 2022 and early 2023 staged demonstrations during the inauguration. The families of those killed said they
02:13do not recognize Fujimori as president and called for an independent commission to investigate the deaths of 50 civilians during
02:20the unrest.
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