The government of Peru granted this Tuesday a safe-conduct to the family of former President Pedro Castillo so that they can travel to Mexico, a country that has granted them political asylum. Now the Mexican ambassador has 72 hours to leave the country.
According to a report of the BBCCastillo’s wife, Lilia Paredes Navarro, and their two children are at the Mexican embassy in Lima waiting to be able to travel to the North American country.
Foreign Minister Gervasi: The Government of Peru has declared the Mexican ambassador to Peru, Mr. Pablo Monroy Conesa, persona non grata, due to the repeated expressions of the highest authorities of that country regarding the political situation in Peru. pic.twitter.com/h7AkoNri5h
– Chancellery Peru ?? (@CancilleriaPeru) December 20, 2022
But, after the safe-conduct was granted, the Peruvian government declared the Mexican ambassador, Pablo Monroy Conesa, persona non grata, giving him 72 hours to leave the country.
“This decision is based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which establishes the power of the receiving State to declare a foreign head of mission persona non grata,” the Peruvian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to the London media.
Castillo has been detained since December 7, after trying to dissolve Congress, which for the third time planned to remove him a year and a half into his administration. Since then, Peru has been marked by protests by Castillo’s supporters calling for the dissolution of Congress and the reinstatement of the former president.
The Peruvian Foreign Minister, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, told the press that they granted the safe-conduct to the family of the former president in response to their “international obligations.” However, he remarked that the Mexican government was informed that Lilia Paredes Navarro “is included in a preparatory investigation as the author of the crime of criminal organization, provided for and punished in article 317 of the Penal Code of Peru”, for the alleged charge of bribery in the concession of public works.
The granting of asylum to Castillo’s relatives has strained the already deteriorated diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to the BBCfrom where it is recalled that after Castillo’s arrest the Mexican government expressed its support for him.
Peru inaugurates government while protests continue in the streets
Meanwhile, the Peruvian Congress approved on Tuesday a project to advance the next general elections to April 2024, scheduled for 2026.
The initiative went ahead with 93 votes in favor, 30 against and 1 abstention, although it must be endorsed with a second vote in the next legislature, which is scheduled to begin on March 1, 2023.
With information from the BBC.
