Perus Keiko Fujimori Eyes Presidential Bid Amid Growing Popularity

Keiko Fujimori Announces Fourth Presidential Bid Amid Strong Competition

Lima, Peru - Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, is running for the presidency for the fourth time. She faces a challenging election campaign as she seeks to overcome past scandals and her father’s legacy.

In 1994, when Keiko was 19 years old, her parents were divorcing, and her mother had accused her father of ordering secret agents to torture her. At that time, Keiko accepted an important job offer from her father, which led to a significant presence in Peruvian politics.

Over the past three decades, Keiko has grown into a formidable opposition leader who commands the country’s most powerful party. She has been instrumental in toppling opponents and installing allies in key government roles. However, winning the presidency has proven elusive for her, with losses in previous elections to lesser-known candidates.

This year, Keiko appears well-positioned to secure a win in Sunday’s run-off election, according to recent polls. Her performance was better than expected in the first round of voting on April 12, and she had initially led her leftist rival, Roberto Sanchez, in most polls. However, Sanchez has since moderated his platform, narrowing the gap between the two candidates.

Keiko faces criticism from some sectors of the public, particularly rural and Indigenous communities, who struggle to connect with her due to her privileged upbringing. Her father’s legacy also remains a significant factor in her campaign, with many Peruvians crediting him with ending an economic crisis and quashing a leftist rebellion.

Supporters of Keiko, such as Lorena Aviles, believe she deserves a chance despite the challenges she faces. “I’ll always vote for Keiko,” Aviles said. “Why? Because Fujimori was the best president Peru has ever had.” However, others, like Eduardo Salazar, are unsure which candidate is the lesser evil and may not support her due to concerns about her father’s legacy.

The outcome of Sunday’s presidential election remains uncertain, with Keiko and Sanchez still neck and neck.

Source: Al Jazeera