Susana Higuchi, ex-wife of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, dies at 71

Peru’s former first lady and wife of imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori died on Wednesday after spending 29 days in an intensive care unit in Lima where she was being treated for cancer, Peruvian news outlets reported.

Susana Higuchi Miyagawa, 71, was ostracized by her family – a few days before the 1992 Peruvian self-coup d'état where Fujimori dissolved the Congress amid a constitutional crisis – after alerting the press that her husband’s extended family was embezzling clothing and money destined for underprivileged families across Peru. Fujimori proceeded to strip her of her title of First Lady, which Keiko Fujimori then assumed.

"One cannot give in to blackmail or intimidation, wherever they come from. I have therefore decided to separate my wife from the function of First Lady," Fujimori announced in a televised message.

Higuchi did not remain silent, however, telling the press, "Since my husband took office, from the first day, I have had the best interest of the Peruvian people at heart. That is why they accuse me of disloyalty or treason.”

Higuchi filed for divorce in 1994 and attempted a presidential run in 1995, competing against her ex-husband. The Peruvian Congress prevented her run, however, passing a now infamous law known as the “Susana Law.”

She ultimately ran for congress and served as a member of the Independent Moralizing Front, a reformist political party allied with then-president Alejandro Toledo, from 2000 to 2006.

In her final years, she made amends with her children, all of whom were at her side at the time of her death.

Tweets in support of the former first-lady have flooded Twitter since her death was announced.

Her eldest daughter, former presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, confirmed the death on Twitter, saying, "After a long fight against cancer, our mother has left to meet God."

Después de una dura lucha contra el cáncer, nuestra madre, Susana Higuchi acaba de partir al encuentro de Dios. Estuvo rodeada del amor de nosotros sus hijos y de sus nietos hasta el último momento. La encomendamos a la Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción hoy en su día.

— Keiko Fujimori (@KeikoFujimori) December 8, 2021

Soon after, the Peruvian Congress tweeted, saying, “From Congress, we send our condolences to the family and friends of former Congresswoman Susana Higuchi Miyagawa. May she rest in peace.”

Desde el Congreso enviamos nuestras condolencias a los familiares y amigos de la excongresista de la República Susana Higuchi Miyagawa, tras su sensible fallecimiento. Que descanse en paz. pic.twitter.com/G1nUS4OXeJ

— Congreso del Perú (@congresoperu) December 8, 2021

Former President Ollanta Humala added to the chorus of condolences, tweeting, “My family and I express our deepest condolences to the Fujimori-Higuchi family for this irreparable loss. Rest in peace, Mrs. Susana Higuchi.”

Mi familia y yo expresamos nuestras más sentidas condolencias a la familia Fujimori Higuchi por esta irreparable pérdida. Descanse en paz, señora Susana Higuchi.

— Ollanta Humala Tasso (@Ollanta_HumalaT) December 8, 2021

Susana Higuchi's most recent public appearances were during the 2021 presidential campaign when she publicly expressed her support for Keiko Fujimori, her daughter and then-Fuerza Popular candidate.