Peru lets Keiko Fujimori bypass congress on crime

Peru's congress has approved a bill allowing President Keiko Fujimori to bypass lawmakers temporarily when legislating against organized crime.

The measure gives Fujimori power to legislate by decree on public security for 90 days, including on weapons, immigration and the prison system.

The Senate approved the bill on Wednesday after the Chamber of Deputies passed it earlier in October with some controversial measures removed.

The upper house also added provisions allowing Fujimori to authorize military intervention against gangs when police are unable to tackle them.

Peru is facing a security crisis in which homicides more than doubled between 2018 and 2025 to 2,600, while extortion complaints rose from 3,200 to 26,500 over the same period. Authorities say overcrowded prisons are being used as bases for criminal activity.

The bill also lets Fujimori bypass congress temporarily to respond to the El Nino climate phenomenon. Authorities say wildfires fueled by El Nino have killed at least 12 people in Peru since June.