Peruvian justice has declared unfounded a request from the accusation of disqualifying the right-wing party Fuerza Popular for 30 months in a case for alleged illegal contributions from the Brazilian company Odebrecht, thus keeping its candidate Keiko Fujimori in the electoral race.
“We have just received notifications. There is no suspension of the Fuerza Popular. Our presidential plan, our candidates for the Andean Congress and Parliament, our militants and supporters in Peru, we continue to move forward to save our country again,” Keiko announced in his account. from the social network Twitter.
The eldest daughter and political heir of former President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) stressed that “this decision strengthens democracy” and allows her party to “participate on equal terms.”
“Let the people decide,” he added after describing the request of prosecutor José Domingo Pérez, who has been investigating it for more than three years, as arbitrary.
Judge Víctor Zúñiga concludes in a 44-page ruling that he “declares unfounded the request to suspend the activities of the political party Fuerza Popular”.
The ruling removes the threats Fujimori faced before the April 11, 2021 presidential and legislative elections.
With an adverse decision, Fujimori would have been prevented from competing.
The prosecution tried to clarify the path of further investigations against Keiko, 45, and his entourage for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions from Odebrecht.
Keiko is running for the third presidency after losing her ballot in 2011 and 2016.
The prosecutor in the case claims that a criminal organization was formed within the People’s Force in order to obtain political power and receive illicit money.
“We request this suspension because the one who is currently exercising (…) the representation and presidency of the party is Keiko Fujimori, who was aware of the illegality of the money that entered that organization,” the prosecutor said on November 30 when he submitted his application. .
Keiko, who has been in pre-trial detention for 16 months for this case, denies receiving any illegal money for his 2011 and 2016 campaigns.
The Odebrecht case also affects four former Peruvian presidents.
In a recent interview with AFP, Keiko said that “this request for suspension, if accepted, in reality what it grants is a death penalty.”
Keiko’s father, now 82, is serving a 25-year sentence for corruption and crimes against humanity in his government.
Fujimoriism has been a gravitational force since 1990, but lost its influence and did not play a major role in the crisis that led Peru to have three presidents in a few days: Martín Vizcarra (in power between March 2018 and November 9). Manuel Merino (who ruled for five days) and Francisco Sagasti, the current president.