Fujimori to run in Japan poll
Peru’s ex-president to contest next month’s election for a seat in the Upper House.
“I’d like to use my 10 years experience as president for Japan and the world.
“I want to resolve Asia diplomacy issues, in particular North Korea and the abduction problem. That is my hope. I think I can do it.”
Implications
It was not immediately clear what the implications would be for the extradition case if Fujimori were to win office.
A Peruvian state official said last week the election move was a ploy to avoid extradition and proved the 68-year-old former president was desperate.
Fujimori went into exile in Japan in 2000 when his government collapsed under the weight of a huge corruption scandal.
His parents were born in Japan and he has dual Peruvian-Japanese citizenship.
He was arrested in Chile in November 2005 and has been at the centre of a protracted legal process since then.
A Chilean Supreme Court judge is expected to rule on the extradition case in the next few weeks or months.
The court must then decide whether to ratify it or not.
Fujimori’s extradition case has raised passions in Peru, where some praise him for the tough stance he took on terrorism during his 10-year presidency while others say he was corrupt and undemocratic.