Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori has issued a stark ultimatum to the nation’s legislature, declaring that without sweeping emergency legislative powers, the executive branch cannot effectively combat escalating organized crime. Speaking publicly to TV Perú, Fujimori urged the Congress of the Republic of Peru to drastically accelerate its analysis of a pending executive bill, which requests broad decree-making authority across security, economic recovery, and seasonal disaster mitigation.
The Urgency of Executive Decree Powers Amid Rising Crime
The legislative package, formally registered as Proyecto de Ley N.° 00098-2026-2031-CD, was submitted by the executive branch to grant the government 120 days of legislative faculties. This push comes as local authorities grapple with the resurgence of criminal structures such as Los Pulpos and La Jauría. According to Infobae Perú, the administration’s request encompasses 66 distinct measures aimed squarely at overhauling national security protocols, tightening state reforms, and confronting transnational criminal syndicates like the Tren de Aragua.
“Invocamos al Congreso de la República a que ellos puedan analizar este pedido de facultades de una manera rápida,” Fujimori declared during her broadcast interview, framing the legislative bottleneck as a direct threat to public safety.
Legal Overhauls and the Militarization of Border and Prison Security
At the heart of the administration’s security strategy is a proposal to legally classify domestic criminal gangs as terrorist organizations. Prime Minister Luis Galarreta detailed that this reclassification is designed to furnish the Armed Forces with the necessary legal backing to operate alongside the National Police of Peru. Under the proposed framework, military personnel would take on perimeter surveillance roles outside the country’s prisons and enforce controls along national borders.
Beyond troop deployment, the executive strategy relies heavily on modernizing state intelligence infrastructure. Fujimori noted that the intelligence service “desde hace unos años no tienen capacidad operativa”. The requested powers would include technological upgrades, including the deployment of drones and advanced surveillance camera networks across local police stations, alongside an administrative push to expedite the expulsion of undocumented foreign nationals.
Navigating Administrative Hurdles and Congressional Friction
The road to legislative approval has not been entirely smooth. The executive proposal faced an initial administrative delay after the government failed to include a formal document certifying that the Council of Ministers had approved the request. The administration rectified the oversight on August 31 by submitting a certified copy of the official cabinet acta.
Following the correction, the Constitution Committee of the Chamber of Deputies transitioned into permanent session to review the extensive dossier. Lawmakers are currently balancing the executive’s urgent security demands against broader budgetary priorities, including a separate appeal from the Chamber of Deputies to safeguard funding for public health, water sanitation, and critical prevention infrastructure ahead of the El Niño phenomenon.
The Road Ahead for Peru’s Security Architecture
As the Constitution Committee continues its sessions, the ultimate fate of the 66 legislative requests hangs in the balance. What are your thoughts on expanding executive decree powers to fight crime? Let us know in the conversation below.
