• Keiko Fujimori sworn in as Peru's president after a narrow victory in June.
• Her campaign focused on a strict crackdown on crime, triggering fears of authoritarianism.
• Fujimori is the first elected female president in Peru and the daughter of a controversial former leader.
• The political landscape remains deeply polarized, with significant opposition from leftist factions.
• Peru's economy remains one of the most stable in Latin America despite political turmoil.

Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as Peru's president on Tuesday, becoming the latest in a series of conservative leaders elected across Latin America amid growing concerns over crime and political instability. She won the presidential runoff in June by fewer than 50,000 votes against leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez, marking her as the first elected female head of state in Peru. Fujimori's victory reflects a broader shift to the right in the region, which has seen an emergence of leaders advocating for closer ties with the United States and focused on crime policies, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and NPR.

During her inauguration, Fujimori pledged to tackle the severe security crisis in Peru, proposing a range of hardline measures including anonymous judges and possibly deporting undocumented migrants. Her approach aligns with similar policies seen in El Salvador under President Bukele, raising concerns among critics about potential human rights violations. Observers noted that Fujimori’s campaign was significantly influenced by her father, Alberto Fujimori, whose authoritarian rule in the 1990s ended in scandal and imprisonment, highlighting fears that Keiko may replicate his strategies, as stated by various citizens and analysts, according to LA Times and Le Monde.

Fujimori’s Popular Force party, in alliance with Popular Renovation, holds a significant number of seats in Congress, complicating efforts for opposition lawmakers to oust her. However, she will need to navigate a fragmented legislature and a deeply polarized populace that remains divided over her family’s political legacy. Notably, the opposition, fueled by grievances over recent laws enacted under the previous administration, is poised to challenge her governance aggressively, as reported by Reuters and LA Times.

Despite the political tensions, Peru's economy has remained relatively stable, attributed largely to its significant copper exports. The central bank's conservative management keeps interest rates low, contributing to economic resilience amid political upheaval. Yet, critics point out a widening gap between living standards in urban and rural areas, indicative of the wider challenges Fujimori will face as she strives to fulfill her promises of stability and growth, a sentiment echoed by NPR and Le Monde.