Alberto Fujimori, Controversial Peruvian Leader, Dies at 86

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, who led the nation from 1990 to 2000, passed away in Lima on Wednesday at age 86. His death was announced by his daughter Keiko Fujimori on X. Fujimori's presidency saw both economic revival and harsh anti-insurgency measures, though it ended in corruption convictions.

Fujimori emerged victorious in the 1990 elections against Mario Vargas Llosa, addressing Peru's challenges of rampant inflation and guerrilla warfare. Notably, his administration implemented extensive privatizations and defeated Shining Path rebels. However, his presidency deteriorated due to autocratic tendencies and human rights abuses, leading to a 25-year sentence in 2009 for orchestrating the deaths of 25 people during the fight against the Shining Path.

Despite his imprisonment, Fujimori remained politically active. He was pardoned in December for his crimes and had aspirations to run for the presidency again in 2026, as announced by his daughter Keiko in July. However, he never clarified how he would bypass the law prohibiting individuals convicted of corruption from running for office. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)