Former controversial ex-President Alberto Fujimori will run again
The Japanese-descended Fujimori ruled Peru with an iron fist for two terms from 1990 to 2000. In two weeks, he will turn 86 years old. Moreover, legal proceedings against Fujimori could hinder his candidacy. He was released early from prison in December where he had been serving a sentence since 2009 for crimes against humanity. The Constitutional Court reactivated his pardon, which was issued by the then Peruvian President Pablo Kucynski in 2007 and revoked in 2018 due to massive protests.
Fujimori was sentenced for massacres committed in the early 90s against the guerrilla organization Shining Path by death squads. According to the court ruling, he was supposed to serve 25 years in prison.
Fujimori's daughter Keiko stated that she will not be the Vice-President if her father runs for office again. "I believe that my role as the party chairman will help him to arm the teams," she said, looking at the election campaign.
Keiko Fujimori is currently facing a corruption trial. The prosecutor demanded 30 years and ten months in prison for her last week. The allegations are related to the widespread affair involving the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Fujimori, who has spent a total of 16 months in pre-trial detention, denies the accusations. The trial against her and 45 co-defendants, which began on July 1, is expected to last more than a year.
- Despite the legal proceedings against her, Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Former President Alberto Fujimori, has declared her intentions to support her father's potential bid for the presidency in the upcoming Peruvian election.
- Alberto Fujimori, who served as Peru's President from 1990 to 2000, was earlier convicted for crimes against humanity due to massacres committed against the Shining Path guerrilla group.
- The Constitutional Court in Peru reinstated the pardon granted to Alberto Fujimori in 2007 by then-President Pablo Kucynski, but which was later revoked in 2018 following protests.
- Despite facing a corruption trial, which includes allegations of involvement with the Odebrecht scandal, Keiko Fujimori has maintained her innocence and has been in pre-trial detention multiple times.
- The trial against Keiko Fujimori and 45 other co-defendants is currently underway in Peru, and it is expected to last over a year.
- In contrast to her father's controversial past, Keiko Fujimori indicated that she would not seek the Vice-President position if he ends up running for presidency, instead focusing on her role as the party chairman.
