Peruvian journalist and columnist Rosa María Palacios has published an assessment of President Keiko Fujimori's first 46 days in office, saying Fujimori has shifted away from the informal social-media presence she kept during her early weeks in power and adopted a more formal, press-facing style of communication.
Palacios laid out her analysis in a column titled "Los días de Keiko," published in the Peruvian newspaper La República.
A change in communication style
Palacios recalled that in her first weeks in government, Fujimori kept up a visible social-media presence that included content about personal matters such as her clothing, accessories and personal care. According to Palacios, that approach has now begun to fade.
The columnist described the shift as a positive one, noting that the president now interacts more with journalists, pointing to Fujimori's responses to reporters during official events and her appearances in radio interviews.
It was in that context that Palacios wrote one of the most striking lines of her column, saying that killing off the "influencer" must have been costly for Fujimori, but that doing so was the only way for her to become president. Palacios framed the remark as pointing to the change in profile she believes Fujimori needs in order to fully take on the institutional role of head of state, moving away from communication tied to her everyday life.
Criticism of the first 46 days
Despite acknowledging that shift in tone, Palacios remained critical of how the Fujimori government has started out. She said the executive branch has still not explained with enough precision what measures it intends to apply to problems such as citizen insecurity and economic growth.
Palacios also addressed the government's request for legislative powers, saying the cabinet led by Prime Minister Luis Galarreta had not sufficiently detailed which changes it intends to pursue or what concrete results they would produce.
The columnist further noted that Fujimori has changed the timeframe attached to her promises. According to Palacios, the president's early talk of delivering change from the start of her term has given way to proposals that push expected results into a longer period of government.
Palacios described the change in presidential communication as a favorable correction, but said it would not be enough unless it comes paired with concrete decisions and proposals. Closing her assessment of the government's first weeks, she said there was no time left for excuses.
Who is Rosa María Palacios
Rosa María Palacios is a Peruvian journalist, lawyer and television host known for her political commentary and columns on Peruvian current affairs. Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president Alberto Fujimori, took office as president of Peru after previously running for the position in earlier elections. La República is one of Peru's leading national newspapers.
