Boluarte calls leaders after Mexico president supports Castillo

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo addresses the audience during the opening of the VII Ministerial Summit on Government and Digital Transformation of the Americas, in Lima, Peru on November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda

The new president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, declared on Tuesday that she will speak with regional leaders who have come to the support of her jailed predecessor after her Mexican counterpart announced a break in relations with Peru.

Former President Pedro Castillo was removed from office and imprisoned last week after members in the opposition-controlled Congress voted to dismiss him shortly after he illegally attempted to dissolve Congress to avoid a third impeachment vote.

Tuesday morning, President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador slammed the dismissal of fellow leftist Castillo as undemocratic.

Lopez Obrador told reporters at a routine government news conference, stating that Castillo won a free election last year and cannot be dismissed, that "the desire of the people who elected (Castillo) should be respected."

On Monday, the governments of Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, and Argentina released a joint statement in which they demanded the protection of Castillo's human and judicial rights and dubbed him "a victim of undemocratic harassment."

Boluarte, who served as Castillo's vice president, responded on Tuesday by justifying Castillo's removal as legal, citing his attempted coup. She informed reporters that she will contact Lopez Obrador and the presidents of the other three signatories to resolve the situation.

"Diplomatic connections with these sister nations remain unchanged," she stated.

However, Boluarte also revealed that Argentine President Alberto Fernandez called her last week to thank her, expressing perplexity as to why his government signed Monday's critical statement.

Lopez Obrador frequently asserts that he adheres to a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations.

However, on Tuesday the Mexican president emphasized that he will acknowledge Castillo as Peru's leader for the time being.

"Relationships are on hold while we await further developments," he said. Hopefully, a democratic solution will be discovered.

Meanwhile, violent protests persisted around Peru, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, including numerous teenagers, all of whom were shot to death.

Protesters claim Boluarte should resign, the Congress should be dissolved, and new elections should be summoned.

Tuesday, Boluarte recommended bringing elections forward even more than she had proposed the week prior.

She had stated that they may be held in April 2024, two years before the elections presently slated for 2026, but on Tuesday she stated that she will work with Congress to move them even sooner, without providing a date.

The new president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, declared on Tuesday that she will speak with regional leaders who have come to the support of her jailed predecessor after her Mexican counterpart announced a break in relations with Peru.

Former President Pedro Castillo was removed from office and imprisoned last week after members in the opposition-controlled Congress voted to dismiss him shortly after he illegally attempted to dissolve Congress to avoid a third impeachment vote.

Tuesday morning, President of Mexico Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador slammed the dismissal of fellow leftist Castillo as undemocratic.

Lopez Obrador told reporters at a routine government news conference, stating that Castillo won a free election last year and cannot be dismissed, that "the desire of the people who elected (Castillo) should be respected."

On Monday, the governments of Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, and Argentina released a joint statement in which they demanded the protection of Castillo's human and judicial rights and dubbed him "a victim of undemocratic harassment."

Boluarte, who served as Castillo's vice president, responded on Tuesday by justifying Castillo's removal as legal, citing his attempted coup. She informed reporters that she will contact Lopez Obrador and the presidents of the other three signatories to resolve the situation.

"Diplomatic connections with these sister nations remain unchanged," she stated.

However, Boluarte also revealed that Argentine President Alberto Fernandez called her last week to thank her, expressing perplexity as to why his government signed Monday's critical statement.

Lopez Obrador frequently asserts that he adheres to a policy of non-interference in the affairs of other nations.

However, on Tuesday the Mexican president emphasized that he will acknowledge Castillo as Peru's leader for the time being.

"Relationships are on hold while we await further developments," he said. Hopefully, a democratic solution will be discovered.

Meanwhile, violent protests persisted around Peru, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people, including numerous teenagers, all of whom were shot to death.

Protesters claim Boluarte should resign, the Congress should be dissolved, and new elections should be summoned.

Tuesday, Boluarte recommended bringing elections forward even more than she had proposed the week prior.

She had stated that they may be held in April 2024, two years before the elections presently slated for 2026, but on Tuesday she stated that she will work with Congress to move them even sooner, without providing a date.

Publish : 2022-12-14 08:23:00

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