Peru victims' relatives reject Keiko Fujimori's legitimacy to govern

Relatives of people killed by Peruvian state violence and civil society organizations rejected president-elect Keiko Fujimori's legitimacy to govern on Tuesday, citing fears of democratic backsliding and judicial impunity.

The groups signed a declaration opposing the incoming conservative president, who is the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori. Alberto Fujimori ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000 and was jailed for corruption and crimes against humanity committed in the name of fighting what he considered terrorism.

Gisela Ortiz, whose brother was kidnapped and murdered by an army death squad in 1992, signed the declaration. She said it was a statement by relatives' and victims' organizations rejecting Keiko Fujimori's government, refusing to recognize her as president and saying she lacked legitimacy. Ortiz said the families feared that another Fujimori administration would mean authoritarian government without human rights guarantees.

Other signatories included relatives of people killed during Peru's internal armed conflict from 1980 to 2000 and during protests against Dina Boluarte's government in 2022 and 2023. The declaration also called for honoring victims of state violence, protecting judicial independence and allowing monitoring by international organizations.

Fujimori is set to become Peru's ninth president this decade amid chronic political instability. The 51-year-old narrowly won the election and is due to take office on July 28. In an address last week, she called for conciliation among opposing political camps.

Bereaved families rejected that appeal and said they would protest on the day of her inauguration. Milagros Samillan, whose sibling died during protests against Boluarte's administration, said they would not accept reconciliation without justice and described talks with Fujimori as making a pact with mafias.