Alberto Fujimori, former Peruvian president and one of the most controversial figures in the country’s modern history, passed away at the age of 86 in Lima. His death on September 11 marks the end of an era that continues to divide the nation. Despite being convicted of human rights abuses and corruption, he maintained a devoted base of supporters and remained a central figure in Peruvian politics, even in his later years.

Fujimori died at the home of his daughter Keiko in San Borja, where he had been living since his release from prison in December 2023. His freedom followed years of medical complications stemming from his imprisonment, during which he served time for crimes related to the infamous death squad, Grupo Colina. The squad was responsible for the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres in the early 1990s, for which Fujimori received a 25-year prison sentence.

Fujimori’s release came after the Peruvian Constitutional Court reinstated a controversial humanitarian pardon granted to him in 2017 by then-president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. The decision prompted public outrage, particularly from human rights groups, but for his supporters, the former leader was seen as a national hero who had saved Peru from the grip of economic collapse and the brutal insurgency of the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path.

A Divided Legacy: Achievements and Condemnation

His presidency from 1990 to 2000 left a lasting impact on Peru. When he assumed office, the country was reeling from hyperinflation and internal conflict. Fujimori’s administration took bold, often autocratic steps, including a self-coup in 1992 where he dissolved Congress and assumed control of the judiciary. His administration is credited with stabilising the economy and quelling insurgent groups, particularly with the capture of Shining Path leader Abimael Guzmán in 1992.

Economists like Luis Miguel Castilla point out that Fujimori’s economic reforms, solidified under the 1993 Constitution, have had long-lasting positive effects. These include multiplying Peru’s GDP by 2.5 times, reducing poverty by 40 points, and attracting significant foreign investment. This economic model created a level of macroeconomic stability that sustained Peru’s growth for decades.

However, his legacy is equally tarnished by allegations of widespread corruption, embezzlement, political repression, and human rights abuses. His authoritarian style of governance eroded democratic institutions, and his association with the intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, who orchestrated a vast network of bribery and surveillance, further deepened the mistrust towards his government. Fujimori eventually fled to his parents' native Japan in 2000, where he spent five years in exile after being granted citizenship, resigning from office via fax following a corruption scandal that implicated Montesinos.

The Polarising Figure: A Nation Still Split

Despite his mixed track record, Fujimori’s political influence persisted. His daughter Keiko Fujimori currently leads the right-wing party Fuerza Popular, championing her father’s legacy while running for the presidency on three separate occasions, though never successfully. The enduring loyalty of his supporters speaks to the deep polarisation he incited throughout his political career.

The death of Alberto Fujimori has prompted three days of national mourning, decreed by the government of President Dina Boluarte, as the country grapples with the complex legacy of a man who continues to evoke strong emotions on both sides of the political spectrum. While his supporters remember him as a saviour, his detractors see him as a dictator who left a deep scar on Peru’s democratic institutions.

His economic model may be credited for bringing long-term prosperity, but the gross human rights violations and his authoritarian grip on power left lasting wounds that may take even longer to heal.