Peru gives Mexican ambassador 72 hours to leave as spat deepens
Peru has asked the Mexican ambassador to depart within 72 hours of Mexico’s grant of asylum to the family led by the ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo.
Castillo was forced out of office in the middle of this month for trying to disintegrate Congress.
Peru is investigating him on suspicion of conspiracy and rebellion.
Mexico, however, has shown support for the ousted president and indicated that it was open to considering granting him asylum.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Mexican President, has called Mr Castillo’s removal undemocratic.
Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican Foreign Minister, stated Tuesday that the government was working to secure safe passage for Mr Castillo’s family who were in Mexico’s embassy at Lima.
Ana Cecilia Gervasi from Peru, his Peruvian counterpart, stated that safe passage was granted.
However, Peru was angered by Mexico’s decision not to grant asylum. The government declared Pablo Monroy, the Mexican Ambassador, “persona non-grata”.
Peru’s foreign ministry stated on its social media accounts, that Mr Monroy was being expelled because of “repeated statements by the highest authorities in that country about the political situation” in Peru.
Maria del Carmen Alva, Peru’s opposition legislator, accused Mexico of “sheltering corrupt”.
After attempting to dissolve Congress, Castillo was taken from office and is currently in Peru.
Facing an impeachment vote, Mr Castillo had announced he was dissolving the opposition-controlled legislative body.
However, Congress voted in overwhelming support of him and he was forced to resign. His bodyguards prevented him from fleeing to the Mexican Embassy in Lima.
Within hours, Congress elected Dina Boluarte as his vice-president.
She had been pushing for early elections and the two sides moved closer as lawmakers voted in favor of her proposals on Tuesday.
This would move elections to April 2024 instead of the 2026 elections.
Demonstrators have demanded new general elections in violent demonstrations. Castillo supporters have taken to the streets in demand of his release.
