Ceremonial Transfer of Command at the Government Palace

President Keiko Fujimori was formally recognized on Wednesday as supreme chief of Peru's Armed Forces and National Police, in a ceremony at the Government Palace's Patio de Honor. Defense Minister Rafael Belaunde and Interior Minister César Astudillo accompanied her as General César Briceño, head of the Joint Command, handed over the Baton of Command — a symbol of her constitutional authority over the country's defense and internal order institutions.

The event, attended by the military high command, police leadership and state authorities, marked the institutional transfer of power to the new head of state. Immediately afterward, the first Council of Ministers, led by Prime Minister Luis Galarreta, was scheduled to convene to approve the measures needed to govern the country. The cabinet session is expected to set the initial tone for Fujimori's administration, which has promised swift action on security and economic management.

What Fujimori's Assumption of Military Command Means for Peru's Governance

Symbolic Consolidation of Fujimorismo's Return

The ceremony was more than a constitutional formality. For Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, assuming command of the armed forces is a powerful signal of her political restoration. The military, long a pillar of Fujimorismo's legacy, now answers directly to her, consolidating her authority after a polarizing election. The presence of the entire military and police hierarchy in a display of institutional respect suggests that the security establishment is prepared to work with the new government.

Security Cabinet Picks Hint at Hardline Approach

The composition of the security cabinet immediately drew attention. Defense Minister Rafael Belaunde is a seasoned Fujimorista politician, while Interior Minister César Astudillo, a retired army general, brings a military perspective to policing. This pairing suggests a coordinated strategy to tackle Peru's persistent crime and remnants of terrorism: a strong defense ministry to manage relations with the armed forces and an interior chief who can apply military-style operations to public security. Business and civic groups will watch for early directives on emergency zones, anti-extortion units and military support for police.

First Cabinet Meeting to Signal Policy Priorities

The immediate convening of the Council of Ministers under Prime Minister Luis Galarreta indicates the administration is prioritizing executive action. Galarreta, a close Fujimori ally from the Fuerza Popular party, is expected to push through initial decrees that may touch on economic reactivation, security investments and possibly mining or tax simplifications. The speed of these first measures will be read by investors as a test of the government's ability to deliver on its pro-business platform while maintaining social stability.

What to Watch in the First Days of Fujimori's Presidency

  • Watch today's Cabinet decrees closely. The Galarreta-led council is expected to approve immediate measures; any signs of fiscal discipline, infrastructure spending, or concessions for extractive industries would be market-positive signals.
  • Monitor Interior Minister Astudillo's first directives. Given his military background, he may quickly expand the role of the armed forces in urban security or intensify operations in coca-growing regions — moves that would affect both local businesses and the human rights climate.
  • Observe the military's public posture. The tone of the Joint Command's early communications under General Briceño will indicate whether the military intends to take a more political role or stay strictly within its constitutional mandate, something that matters for long-term institutional stability.