Alberto Fujimori is a former Peruvian politician who later became the country’s President, a position he held for nearly a decade. Fujimori, who is well educated, worked as an academic for several years before running for president. His election came as a complete surprise, earning him the label of ‘Peru’s first Asian president’. When Fujimori assumed power, Peru was in ruin. Among his greatest accomplishments were stabilizing the Peruvian economy through the relaxation of numerous trading rules and putting the Maoist insurgency under control to a large extent. During his first term, Fujimori disregarded the constitution and staged a coup against the President. The world community harshly criticized the coup, although it was widely supported by the Peruvian population. While Fujimori made important changes in Peru, he was highly criticized for his ‘dictatorship’ style of leadership, which ultimately contributed to his demise. All of Fujimori’s goodwill over the years was sullied by instances such as forced sterilization of women for population control. Later on, it was uncovered that Fujimori was also involved in criminal activities such as drug trafficking and illegal arms and ammunition dealing. Fujimori was tried in court and sentenced to 25 years in prison for a variety of offenses. He is currently serving a prison sentence.
Childhood & Adolescence
Alberto Fujimori was born in Japan on 28 July 1938 to Mutsue Inomoto and Naoichi Fujimori. In 1934, his parents emigrated to Peru from Japan. He also has three siblings. Fujimori’s birthplace remains a point of contention. While some sources assert that he was born in Peru, others assert that he was born in Japan.
Fujimori graduated from ‘La Rectora with elementary education. Fujimori learned to speak fluent Spanish during his school years. In 1957, he enrolled at ‘Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina’ and graduated in 1961 with a degree in Agricultural Engineering. He briefly worked as a mathematics lecturer at a university upon graduation.
In 1964, Fujimori traveled to France to study physics at the prestigious ‘University of Strasbourg.’ He attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the United States on a Ford scholarship and graduated in 1969 with a Master’s degree in Mathematics.
Alberto Fujimori’s Career
He returned to Peru and enrolled in the Universidad Nacional de Agricultura. Fujimori was appointed dean of the Universidad Nacional Agraria in 1984. He was then appointed Rector of the institution but resigned in 1989. He also hosted a show named ‘Concertando’ for the popular television channel ‘Channel 7’ during this time period.
In 1990, Fujimori created the political party ‘Cambio 90.’ He also ran for President that year as a party candidate. Interestingly, the election result came as a complete surprise. Fujimori easily defeated the hotly contested Mario Vargas Llosa. As a result, he got the notoriety as the ‘First man of Asian ancestry to lead the administration of a Latin American nation.’
Fujimori’s first policy as President was the ‘Fujishock.’ According to reports, his predecessor, Alan Garcia, had left the country in a precarious economic situation. Fujimori relaxed a slew of restrictive commercial laws, assisting Peru in achieving economic stability.
Fujimori was re-elected President of Peru in 1995, defeating Javier Prez de Cullar, the United Nations Secretary-General, by a landslide.
One of the first responsibilities assigned to the administration in 1995 was to pursue police personnel who had violated human rights in the preceding fifteen years. Fujimori also attempted to defuse tensions with Ecuador and Chile. During this time period, Ecuador and Peru signed a peace deal.
Fujimori was unable to maintain the reputation he built during his first term. He clipped the wings of two institutions and stripped them of their autonomy. This action cemented Fujimori’s public image as a ‘Dictator.’
Between 1996 and 2000, the Fujimori administration reportedly compelled approximately 300,000 women to undergo sterilization in order to limit Peru’s rising population, according to an operation undertaken by intelligence agency Vladimiro Montesinos.
Fujimori ran for President for the third time in 2000. Though he narrowly won the election and formed the government, the populace protested his administration. As a result, he was obliged to resign.
Fujimori was tried in 2009 by a Peruvian court for a series of human rights violations. Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in jail after being found guilty. Additionally, he was convicted of bribing ‘Vladimiro Montesinos’ to expose wealthy businesspeople and bureaucrats, for which the court increased his sentence by seven years.
His Significant Works
Fujimori’s presidency is best remembered for the ‘Constitutional Crisis of 1992,’ one of the most spectacular episodes in contemporary political history. With the assistance of the military, he suspended the existing Peruvian constitution in order to establish new norms. Surprisingly, Fujimori’s move garnered widespread public approval. He defended his actions by stating that the coup was merely a first step toward improved government and strengthening the nation.
Another significant achievement of the government was its near-total control of the Maoist insurgency in Peru. Peru was plagued by terrorist attacks and atrocities for fifteen years prior to its accession to power. Fujimori took a harsh line against insurgency and empowered the military to put an end to the scourge. Fujimori’s decision garnered widespread public admiration.
Personal History and Legacies
Fujimori married Susana Higuchi, a woman of Japanese ancestry but raised in Peru, in 1974. The marriage produced four children, one of them, Keiko Fujimori, followed in her father’s footsteps by entering politics.
In 1994, Fujimori divorced Susana Higuchi. The divorce took place in public, with the couple washing their dirty laundry in front of a large crowd, further tarnishing Fujimori’s reputation. His wife even referred to him as a ‘Tyrant’ and divulged numerous details about the man’s life.
Estimated Net worth
Alberto is one of the wealthiest politicians and is ranked among the most popular. Alberto Fujimori’s net worth is estimated to be at $1.5 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
Fujimori was referred to as ‘Chino’ by Peruvians, a name used to allude to a guy of Chinese ancestry. Fujimori, on the other hand, was never insulted by the moniker and considered it as a way for the public to express their affection for him.