Peru Could See First Female President

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April 11, 2011 RSS Feed Print
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Keiko Fujimori has been the first lady of Peru before, though her path was far from traditional. Her father, Alberto Fujimori, divorced her mother while he was Peru’s president, making Keiko, then a teenager, the country’s first lady. The elder Fujimori’s tenure as president was as tumultuous as it was controversial. At the height of a corruption scandal in 2000, 10 years after he first took office, Fujimori fled to Japan. He was later convicted and sent to prison back in Peru for a variety of crimes, including embezzlement, murder, kidnapping, and human rights abuses during the country’s fight against the Shining Path guerilla group. Yet Fujimori remains immensely popular among many Peruvians. That helps explain why his 35-year-old daughter is running second in the current presidential contest, a race that’s now in a runoff. She would be the country’s first female president.

 

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Well I agree in some parts with Jon in PA, but no at all, why? well because until I know the Fujimori presindency work hard against the terrorist and put in jail all of them including his leader, bring in to the country some manner of peace, and in the other part talking about the "changed man" is true they said that they has been changed but at the end what they are looking for is just to be elected but once they get the presidency they turn back to their dictatorial manners a real case we have Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, and the reallity is that is better something that they know how will work than some one new that they don't know about what he will bring to the people, and if the peruvian don't want their country go back in the century is better that they elect what they know for sure.

Alex of FL 4:34PM April 12, 2011

I am a peruvian American who lived in Peru for 16 yeas of my life. I love my country dearly and I am so sad to see that after so many years Peru still does not have a candidate running for the presidency that is actually a decent human being worthy or respect. Forget about whether they will be qualified to run the country. Since I can remember, early 1980's, I have witnessed our people having to choose between the best of two evils. I hope I live to see the day where things will improve for the sake of our country and our people. God bless our beautiful country!

Carla of PA 10:24AM April 12, 2011

The prior person's opinion (Jon in PA) must be respected, but the cheap attack on candidate Keiko Fujimori grants his opinion weak and without arguments.

There is no evidence that a Fujimori in office will bring back terrorism, specially if she has a strong-hand on terrorists like her father presidency.

The question for the Peruvians is whether Humala is truly a changed man or he has just changed his support from a Chavez's dictatorship to a Lula's mainstream style to get elected. Tough call.

A recent similar candidacy showed that, surprise surprise, candidates will say anything to get elected. For example, President Ortega in Nicaragua was also a "changed man", but once he got elected, he is now trying to change the laws so he can run again, again, again.

It is going to be close in Peru, and it will be interesting to see two flawed candidates in respect to democrary (Humala as a former coup leader and Keiko as a daughter of a President who shut down Peru's congress) fighting for the upper and middle class voters while keeping their countryside and rural poor voters.

My prediction: Keiko's 50.1% vs Humala's 49.9%

Abe in Florida of FL 10:00AM April 12, 2011

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