Keiko Fujimori warns Congress over delay in legislative powers request
- Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori warned Congress on September 29, 2026, that lawmakers are testing the administration's patience by delaying a request for legislative powers.
- The executive branch's request for delegated legislation has remained stalled in parliament for four weeks.
- Prime Minister Luis Galarreta also criticized the parliamentary delay on September 28, 2026, urging political parties to drop motions against cabinet members and approve the requested powers.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori warned Congress on September 29, 2026, that lawmakers are testing the administration’s patience by delaying a request for legislative powers. Speaking during a public infrastructure event in Chincha, Fujimori criticized the four-week legislative deadlock over the executive branch’s package aimed at combating organized crime and preparing for the El Niño phenomenon.
Executive Demands Legislative Action on Security and El Niño
The executive branch’s request for delegated legislation has remained stalled in parliament for four weeks. Fujimori stated during her appearance in Chincha that the legislature is testing the government’s patience. The package covers eight major areas, including security, migration, micro and small enterprises, employment, taxes, and housing.
Prime Minister Luis Galarreta also criticized the parliamentary delay on September 28, 2026, urging political parties to drop motions against cabinet members and approve the requested powers. Galarreta argued that the reluctance of certain lawmakers to pass the measures amounts to opposing the Peruvian people rather than the administration.
A request for special powers has been submitted to the Congress of the Republic. It’s been four weeks and so far, nothing. They are testing our patience.
Keiko Fujimori, Peruvian President
Constitutional Committee Recommends Rejecting the Package
The executive demands face a direct obstacle in the 205-page predictamen issued by the Constitution Committee, which is led by the Juntos por el Perú bench. The committee’s technical report concludes that the government failed to establish the constitutional urgency required to legislate directly without normal parliamentary debate, citing overly broad and imprecise proposals across the eight targeted sectors. Five other ordinary committees previously issued unfavorable opinions regarding the delegation request.
Opposition figures rejected the executive’s warnings. Víctor Piñán, a deputy and spokesperson for the Partido Cívico Obras, stated via social media that lawmakers will not accept executive pressure, describing the administration’s tone as reminiscent of the 1990s. Roberto Sánchez, chief advisor to Juntos por el Perú, similarly demanded that Prime Minister Galarreta step down if he cannot fulfill his responsibilities without threatening the democratic system.
Government Vows to Proceed With or Without Congressional Approval
Despite the looming rejection from the Constitution Committee, President Fujimori maintained that her administration will pursue anti-crime initiatives regardless of the congressional vote. She emphasized that respecting democratic institutions does not equal weakness and confirmed that the executive will explore all available constitutional avenues to address public security and natural disaster risks.
“We tell the public that we will take all necessary measures to confront this scourge, whether or not we are granted special powers,” Fujimori stated. The Constitution Committee is scheduled to debate and vote on the definitive archiving of the executive’s request between Tuesday and Wednesday.