Alberto Fujimori

Alberto Kenya Fujimori Inomoto, , Hepburn: , }} (born 28 July 1938) is a Peruvian former politician, professor, and engineer who served as President of Peru from 1990 to 2000. Fujimori, a Peruvian of Japanese descent, was an agricultural engineer and university rector before entering politics. Frequently described as a dictator, his tenure is marked by both significant economic reforms and severe human rights abuses.

Fujimori's tenure began with his unexpected victory in the 1990 general election. He quickly implemented neoliberal economic reforms to address hyperinflation and economic instability, which won him initial support from international financial institutions, the military and the Peruvian upper class. His administration soon became known for its authoritarian practices. In 1992, Fujimori carried out a self-coup, dissolving Congress and assuming extraordinary powers. Notably, his government was linked to forced sterilizations and the violent suppression of the Shining Path insurgency. Despite these controversies, many Peruvians view his leadership period favourably due to the perceived restoration of stability and economic growth. He was re-elected in 1995 and controversially again in 2000 amid allegations of electoral fraud.

In 2000, facing mounting allegations of widespread corruption, crimes against humanity and human rights abuses in his government, Fujimori fled to Japan. He was later arrested in Chile in 2005 and extradited to Peru, where he was tried and convicted on multiple charges, including human rights violations and embezzlement. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released in December 2023 following a controversial court order. Fujimori remains a polarizing figure in Peruvian politics, with a legacy notably through his daughter Keiko Fujimori, who has run for the presidency multiple times. Provided by Wikipedia