CONTRERAS: Where is your support strongest? FUJIMORI: A large majority of the neediest sectors give me a high rating. The better-off sectors are supporting other candidates.
Recently a Lima newspaper said government officials helped forge 1 million signatures, enabling a new pro-Fujimori political faction to register in time for the April 9 vote. Has this expose hurt you? It has produced a certain decline [in support] among the higher-income sectors, but not in the lower-income groups… If signatures were falsified, those responsible must submit themselves to the appropriate [judicial] process.
The official election monitor of the Organization of American States says electoral fraud is being prepared here. I totally rule out the possibility of fraud. The system would not permit it. There is complete freedom of the press. The software of the computerized [vote tabulation] system is open to observation by all.
What do you consider to be the greatest achievements of your presidency thus far, and what remaining tasks will become priorities if you are re-elected? I inherited a country in chaos, and we have made it a viable country. And to make it a viable country, we first had to restore internal security [by] defeating terrorism. The economy was also in a state of complete disorder. In addition to hyperinflation, we didn’t have enough resources to meet the payroll of the public sector. We ended the isolation of Peru in international financial circles. Our agenda for action includes creating the appropriate environment for attracting national and foreign private investment. We want to consolidate what has been achieved and generate healthy growth in order to improve living conditions.
During World War II, at the urging of the United States, Peru persecuted its Japanese community. Did that leave you with bitter feelings toward the United States? I have four children. Two have graduated from American universities, and the other two are studying there. We [are] a sovereign country that is favorably disposed to improve relations [with the United States].
Do you still work 14 or 15 hours a day? More… This isn’t a job, this is a profession. I have a calling. My passion is problem solving. If this were a country like Switzerland, I probably wouldn’t be interested.
You would be bored? Bored to death, perhaps [laughs]. Because there wouldn’t be embassy takeovers, there wouldn’t be the El Nino phenomenon, hyperinflation, negotiations with Ecuador, war. I am president in order to take action.
