The political divide between the Peruvian executive branch and the Puno region has deepened, reaching a point where local authorities have explicitly signaled that President Keiko Fujimori is not welcome to visit the area. As the city of Puno marked its 358th anniversary, regional leaders used the occasion to issue a stark warning: the president lacks the political standing to arrive in the region under the traditional considerations afforded to a head of state.
The rejection is rooted in the events of January 9, 2023, when 18 people lost their lives during protests in the region. According to La República, César Hugo Tito Rojas stated during a solemn session at the municipal theater that the president must apologize for her role as a political pillar for the administration of Dina Boluarte during that period. The sentiment among regional leaders is that the current government’s connection to those events remains an open wound that precludes any formal reception for Fujimori.
Chipana Warns Presidential Visit Sparks Public Backlash in Southern Highlands
The refusal to welcome the president is not merely symbolic; it reflects a breakdown in the relationship between the central government and the southern highlands. Chipana, a local figure, argued that any attempt by Fujimori to enter the region would likely trigger significant public backlash. Chipana pointed to the historical influence of the Fujimorismo movement and specifically highlighted the past role of current Minister of Housing, Construction, and Sanitation, Mauricio Arnillas, whom he characterized as Puno’s leading “terruqueador”.
While Arnillas has reportedly expressed interest in engaging in dialogue with the families of those who died in 2023, local leaders like Bladimir Soncco maintain that such overtures are insufficient. They insist that a sincere dialogue is impossible without a formal apology from the state for the actions taken during the 2023 unrest. For these leaders, the demand for public reparation is a prerequisite for any political reconciliation, regardless of the government’s efforts to secure infrastructure or regional projects.
Infrastructure Focus in Huacho
While tensions persist in Puno, the administration has pivoted toward a high-profile security agenda elsewhere. On November 4, 2026, President Fujimori led the formal transfer of two state-owned plots of land in Huacho, totaling 2,600 hectares, for the construction of two new penitentiary facilities. The government has framed this as a cornerstone of its strategy to combat organized crime and reclaim order within the prison system.
The Divergence of Priorities
The contrast between the government’s focus on expanding carceral infrastructure and the regional demand for accountability in Puno illustrates the widening gap in national priorities. While the administration, represented by figures such as Premier Luis Galarreta, emphasizes that these new prisons are essential to “restore order and strengthen security,” the view from Puno remains focused on the historical grievances of 2023.
The government maintains that its current legislative and executive actions are part of a firm and sustained strategy to combat criminality nationwide. However, the resistance in Puno suggests that the administration’s security-first approach does not carry the same political weight in regions where the state’s past actions remain the primary point of contention. As the government moves to finalize the construction of its new facilities in Huacho, the question of whether it can address the demands for apology and reconciliation in the south remains unanswered.
