Peruvian Congress declares Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata

The proposal submitted by right-wing parties in the Peruvian Congress was approved with 63 votes in favor, 33 in favor, and 2 abstentions.

In a statement released by Congress, it was stated that Mexican President Sheinbaum has "demonstrated a hostile attitude" towards Peru since taking office and that Sheinbaum has been declared "persona non grata" in the country.

Congress PresidentFernando Rospigliosi stated in a press conference that Sheinbaum had made statements that openly disparaged the Peruvian nation and interfered in the country's internal affairs.

Jaime Quito, a member of parliament from the Socialist Party, one of Peru's opposition parties, criticized the congressional decision, saying, "We are absolutely against this decision because here, once again, they are creating an international scandal by severing relations with our sister country, Mexico. They do not want to respect the diplomatic asylum agreement that Peru has signed since 1954."

On the other hand, Peru’s interim President Jose Jeri , in a post on the social media platform of the US-based X company, stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had notified the Mexican Ambassador to Lima, Karla Ornela, of the decision to leave the country within the specified time.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The Peruvian government announced on November 4 that it was severing diplomatic relations with Mexico, which had granted political asylum to former Prime Minister Betssy Chavez in its ambassadorial residence.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela, in a press conference targeting Mexico, said, "In the face of this unfriendly action and in view of the repeated interference in Peruvian internal affairs by the current and former presidents of this country, the Peruvian government has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Mexico as of today."

On May 23, 2023, the Peruvian Congress declared former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador "persona non grata" in the country, alleging that he interfered in the country's internal affairs.

Mexico's granting of political asylum to the family of Peruvian former President Castillo has also caused tensions in relations between the two countries in the past.