Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori is facing growing internal divisions within her government as top cabinet ministers publicly clash over museum administration, disaster relief responses and municipal railway projects in Lima.
The rift has pitted Culture Minister Alberto Beingolea against Justice Minister Ernesto Álvarez over the control of a national memory center, while Fujimori has publicly reprimanded Economy Minister Elmer Cuba for downplaying severe flooding caused by El Niño.
Clash over Place of Memory museum
During a public event on August 18, 2026, Culture Minister Alberto Beingolea rejected a proposal by Justice Minister Ernesto Álvarez to transfer the Place of Memory, Tolerance and Social Inclusion museum to the Ministry of Justice.
Beingolea stated that the initiative put forward by his cabinet colleague was nothing more than an opinion, emphasizing that all national museums in Peru fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture.
Beingolea said that it was the justice minister's opinion and that he had nothing to comment on regarding the matter. He added that it was not a question of yielding, noting that he respected all viewpoints but that museum management remains an exclusive duty of the culture ministry. He stressed that no internal rift existed between the ministries.
Justice Minister Ernesto Álvarez had previously proposed the transfer, arguing that the museum has a duty to maintain a balanced narrative serving the entire country rather than a specific political group. In an interview with Caretas magazine, Álvarez stated that he did not understand why the institution belonged to the culture sector, adding that it should sit within the justice ministry because the fight against terrorism was not a cultural matter.
Álvarez also published a letter on social media platform X, signed by various jurists and political figures, pressuring President Fujimori to reassign the museum. The signatories argued that the pedagogical focus of the institution is currently restricted by ideologized elements. They stated that the government must recognize those who sacrificed for democracy rather than those who attacked human life, calling on the executive branch to make a decision to foster national reconciliation.
The proposal drew sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers. Senator Ruth Luque, representing the Ahora Nación party, rejected the initiative as a threat to the autonomy of a key institution dedicated to preserving historical memory, truth, justice and reparation. Luque stated that the museum must not become an arena for political or ideological disputes, demanding respect for its educational mandate regarding human rights violations committed during Peru's internal violence.
Presidential reprimand over El Niño flooding
Tensions within the cabinet also surfaced over the government's response to natural disasters. On August 17, 2026, President Fujimori publicly reprimanded Economy Minister Elmer Cuba for minimizing heavy rain damage and flooding in the Villa El Salvador and Villa María del Triunfo districts of Lima, as well as the broader impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon.
In a broadcast interview on Exitosa, Cuba had urged citizens not to despair over the rains, claiming that similar weather events happen across the globe. He stated that people do not die from El Niño, noting that major cities like Paris, Madrid and Santiago de Chile experience flooding. Cuba added that public infrastructure can be repaired and told listeners not to exaggerate over water reaching their knees as long as lives are saved.
Speaking directly from the disaster zone, President Fujimori criticized Cuba's comments, stating that the economy minister failed to grasp the magnitude of the losses and grief suffered by families who lost their homes and belongings. Fujimori expressed her solidarity with the affected residents and insisted that the government must fix structural flaws alongside emergency relief efforts.
Following the president's public rebuke, Cuba issued an apology, describing his previous remarks as a colloquial expression. He explained that he intended to convey that rainfall is frequent in Peru and must be addressed properly, acknowledging that his wording was unfortunate and stating that he considered the matter closed.
Senator Mirtha Vásquez condemned Cuba's initial statements, describing his response as out of touch and lacking empathy. Vásquez stated that the minister's comments demonstrated that the government has no understanding of the crisis it faces, adding that the period for prevention has passed and that the nation is actively confronting El Niño.
The municipal workers union of state water utility Sedapal also responded to the controversy, issuing a statement asserting that responsibility for infrastructure issues surrounding the Villa María del Triunfo bypass lies with the Ministry of Transport and Communications rather than local water services.
Dispute over Caltrain commuter rail acquisition
Disagreements have also emerged regarding municipal transport projects in the capital. On August 12, 2026, Transport and Communications Minister Rafael Rey contradicted earlier statements from the Municipality of Lima regarding the acquisition of Caltrain rail equipment for the proposed Lima to Chosica route.
Rey revealed that the deal involving 93 passenger carriages and 19 locomotives was a direct purchase authorized by the municipal government, rather than a donation as previously claimed under former Mayor Rafael López Aliaga's administration. Rey noted that while the actual market value of the fleet exceeded the amount paid by the city, the transaction remained a paid acquisition.
Despite the confusion over the transaction terms, President Fujimori confirmed on August 17, 2026, that the rail project will proceed. She told reporters that the train line between Lima and Chosica will be built as planned, adding that the train assets are currently under the management of state investment agency ProInversión.
Repeal of College of Artists legislation
The cabinet friction extends to recent legislative measures passed by Congress. Culture Minister Alberto Beingolea announced his opposition to the College of Artists law, a controversial measure passed by the previous legislature with support from the fujimorista bloc and promulgated by Fernando Rospigliosi.
The law was originally designed to remove former Attorney General Delia Espinoza from her current position as dean of the Lima Bar Association. Following consultations with local cultural groups and artists, Beingolea declared that the law's days are numbered and predicted that it will be repealed in the near future.
