stated on Tuesday that she will work to ensure the well-being of Peruvians, especially those who have remained on the margins of economic growth
She made these remarks during her address to the Congress of the Republic after being sworn in as Head of State.
"This mandate commits us to working for the well-being of all Peruvians, without exception. Above all, however, it commits us to those who, for far too long, have remained on the margins of the country's growth and progress," Fujimori expressed.
The top official said she is committed "to building the future we dream of, but to achieve that, we must have the courage to face our reality head-on, without anesthesia, without makeup, and without half-truths."
In that regard, the president explained that Peru's current diagnosis "is complex and painful."
"We have inherited a country marked by neglect. We have inherited a State weakened by improvisation, reflected in the absence of a vision for the country that identifies the national objectives our Peru demands," Fujimori expressed.
"A State adrift due to the lack of strategic management to organize the institutions behind those objectives," she added.
The top official also said her administration inherited a State "weakened by corruption, where institutions stopped serving citizens, with basic services that never reached those who needed them most."
"This inability of the (Peruvian) State is the result of decades of governments that, with indifference and neglect, gave up on closing the wide gaps that separate millions of Peruvians from access to essential services," Fujimori said.
"In many cases, institutions fell into the hands of opaque interests in order to obtain benefits and privileges through public procurement and State regulation, to the detriment of citizens and free competition," she added.
The President added that, according to the Comptroller General’s Office, the State lost over S/24 billion (above US$7.060 billion) during 2023 alone, equivalent to nearly 13% of the public budget executed, while various analyses estimate that inefficiency in public spending exceeds S/40 billion (above US$11.768 billion) per year.
"These misused resources are hospitals that were never built, schools that were never completed, roads that never materialized, and opportunities that were taken away from millions of Peruvians. This inefficient management of the State is also reflected in public procurement," she indicated.
The Head of State said poor management of the procurement of goods, works, and services "generates losses of up to 19% of contracted spending, despite the fact that public investment has practically doubled over the past decade, reaching an average of 4.9% of GDP."
"Another dramatic sign of this neglect by the State is the extortion that is suffocating small shop owners, motorcycle taxi drivers, and entrepreneurs who build businesses through hard work. In 2024, 24% of businesses in the country were victims of crime. Just five days ago, in the nearby district of La Victoria, 10 people, including five minors, died in a fire allegedly caused by their refusal to give in to extortion. This is unacceptable," Fujimori mentioned.
"The situation in which we have inherited the State is so catastrophic that Peru today has the highest income inequality in all of Latin America, while three out of every 10 of our fellow citizens are uncertain of having the food they need each day; as a consequence, 35% of children aged 6 to 35 months suffer from anemia. This is immoral," she added.
The president said she assumes the Nation's highest office with profound humility, aware of the magnitude of this responsibility, and with her heart full of faith in the destiny of our homeland.
"As of July 28, 2026, we will begin writing our future for the next five years. Not one day more," she concluded.
Publicado: 28/7/2026