Lima, Peru – Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of a former 'dictator,' has won the presidency in Peru, following in her father's footsteps as the latest right-wing leader to take power in Latin America.
Fujimori, 51, shares her father Alberto's law-and-order reputation and support for free-market economic policies, and has pledged to crack down on violent crime and build maximum-security prisons.
With over 98% of the votes counted, Fujimori won the runoff election with 50.002% support, a narrow margin of just a few hundred votes out of nearly 20 million cast.
Her victory has sparked both jubilation and fear among Peruvians, who recall her father's rule from 1990 to 2000, marked by extrajudicial killings, corruption, and human-rights offenses.
Fujimori's election is part of a growing trend of right-wing leaders taking power in South America, with only Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil having left-of-center governments.
Analysts warn that Fujimori's government will face significant challenges, including a dysfunctional political system and a narrow margin of victory, which could lead to problems governing with an aggressive opposition.
