Alberto Fujimori, president of Peru, dissolves the Peruvian congress by military force.

Alberto Kenya Fujimori Inomoto, born on July 28, 1938, is a figure whose life and political career have left an indelible, yet deeply polarizing, mark on Peruvian history. A Japanese-Peruvian statesman, professor, and former engineer, Fujimori served as the President of Peru from the very day he turned 52, July 28, 1990, until his dramatic downfall on November 22, 2000. His decade in power, often characterized by observers as authoritarian or even dictatorial, remains a subject of intense debate and scholarly scrutiny in Peruvian politics.

Fujimori's presidency is credited with two monumental achievements: the decisive defeat of the brutal Shining Path insurgency, which had terrorized the nation for years, and the restoration of Peru's macroeconomic stability after a period of hyperinflation and economic chaos. These successes led to the rise of "Fujimorism," a political ideology and movement that continues to resonate with a segment of the Peruvian population. Indeed, even amidst his prosecution for severe crimes, polls in 2008 showed that a significant two-thirds of Peruvians approved of his leadership during his time in office.

However, the legacy of Alberto Fujimori is inextricably linked with controversy. His presidency concluded abruptly when he fled Peru for Japan in 2000, engulfed in a major scandal involving widespread corruption and egregious human rights abuses.

The Tumultuous Presidency and Downfall of Alberto Fujimori

When Alberto Fujimori, a Peruvian of Japanese descent, sought refuge in Japan in 2000 to escape a burgeoning scandal involving corruption charges, he attempted to resign his presidency by fax. This unprecedented move was swiftly rejected by the Peruvian Congress, which instead chose a more forceful path: impeachment. With a decisive 62–9 vote, Congress removed him from office, signaling the definitive end of his controversial rule.

The 1992 Self-Coup: The Fujimorazo

A pivotal moment in Fujimori's presidency, and a key event defining his controversial legacy, was the 1992 Peruvian self-coup d'état, famously known as the "Fujimorazo." On April 5, 1992, during a period of acute constitutional crisis, President Fujimori unilaterally dissolved the Congress and the judiciary, assuming full legislative and judicial powers with the collaboration of the military. This dramatic power grab, justified by Fujimori as necessary to combat terrorism and corruption more effectively, enabled his government to bypass democratic checks and balances and implement objectives derived from a clandestine "Plan Verde." While proponents argued it was a necessary evil to stabilize the nation, critics condemned it as a blatant subversion of democracy and the rule of law.

Exile, Extradition, and Landmark Trials

Despite being wanted in Peru on charges of corruption and human rights abuses, Fujimori maintained a self-imposed exile in Japan for several years. His immunity as a Japanese citizen, coupled with Japan's reluctance to extradite him, complicated efforts to bring him to justice. However, his period of freedom came to an end in November 2005 when he was arrested during a visit to Chile. After a protracted legal battle, he was finally extradited to Peru on September 22, 2007, marking a significant moment in international legal history.

The trials that followed were historic. In December 2007, Fujimori was convicted of ordering an illegal search and seizure, receiving a six-year prison sentence, a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court. The most impactful verdict came in April 2009, when he was convicted of human rights violations. A three-judge panel sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment for his role in kidnappings and murders carried out by the notorious Grupo Colina death squad during his government's intense battle against leftist guerrillas in the 1990s. This landmark ruling marked the first time an elected head of state had been extradited to their home country, tried, and convicted of human rights violations. Specifically, Fujimori was found guilty of murder, bodily harm, and two cases of kidnapping.

Further convictions followed. In July 2009, he received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for embezzlement, after admitting to diverting $15 million from the Peruvian treasury to his intelligence service chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, a key figure in his administration's corruption. Just two months later, he pleaded guilty in a fourth trial to bribery charges, earning an additional six-year term. Transparency International notably ranked the money embezzled by Fujimori as the seventh-largest amount for a head of government active between 1984 and 2004. Under Peruvian law, all these sentences ran concurrently, meaning his maximum length of imprisonment remained 25 years.

Pardons, Annulments, and Ongoing Legal Battles

The story of Alberto Fujimori continued to unfold with a series of dramatic twists regarding his imprisonment. In December 2017, then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski granted the 79-year-old Fujimori a controversial humanitarian pardon, citing his deteriorating health. This decision sparked widespread protests and international criticism, with many arguing it was a political maneuver rather than a genuine act of compassion. The pardon was indeed overturned by Peru's Supreme Court on October 3, 2018, and Fujimori was ordered back to prison.

On January 23, 2019, he was sent back to complete his sentence, with his pardon formally annulled on February 13, 2019. However, the legal saga was far from over. In a 4-3 ruling on March 17, 2022, the Constitutional Court of Peru once again approved Fujimori's release. This ruling came despite the explicit recommendation of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which had criticized the earlier controversial pardon. As of the latest developments, the precise timing and certainty of his release remained unclear, underscoring the enduring complexity and division that Alberto Fujimori continues to evoke in Peru.

Frequently Asked Questions About Alberto Fujimori

Who is Alberto Fujimori?
Alberto Fujimori is a Japanese-Peruvian former statesman, professor, and engineer who served as the President of Peru from 1990 to 2000. He is a highly controversial figure, credited with economic stability and defeating the Shining Path insurgency, but also convicted of corruption and human rights abuses.
What were his major achievements as President of Peru?
During his presidency, Alberto Fujimori is widely credited with two significant achievements: bringing an end to the violent Shining Path insurgency and restoring macroeconomic stability to Peru, which had been plagued by hyperinflation and economic crisis.
What is the "Fujimorazo"?
The "Fujimorazo" refers to the 1992 Peruvian self-coup d'état, orchestrated by then-President Alberto Fujimori. In this event, he dissolved the Congress and the judiciary, effectively seizing full legislative and judicial powers with military backing, arguing it was necessary to combat terrorism and corruption more effectively.
Why was Alberto Fujimori imprisoned?
Alberto Fujimori was imprisoned after being convicted of multiple crimes, including ordering an illegal search and seizure, human rights violations (specifically murder, bodily harm, and kidnapping by the Grupo Colina death squad), embezzlement of state funds, and bribery. His longest sentence was 25 years for human rights abuses.
What is Fujimori's current legal status regarding his pardon?
Alberto Fujimori has been granted and subsequently had pardons annulled multiple times. Most recently, in March 2022, the Constitutional Court of Peru approved his release again, despite recommendations from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The exact timing and certainty of his release following this ruling have remained fluid and subject to further legal and political developments.