(Mexico City) Mexico on Saturday denied meddling in Peru’s internal affairs and defended its choice to grant asylum, if necessary, to ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, saying it was part of its diplomatic “tradition”.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced Thursday that former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who was overthrown and remanded in custody, has submitted an official request for asylum in Mexico, which is consulting with the Peruvian government.
Asylum is a Mexican tradition […] On Saturday, he said of the steps he had taken to get the Peruvian authorities to allow Mr. Castillo to leave.
For his part, left-leaning Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador – who has alleged Castillo has been victimized by “Peruvian economic and political elites” – on Saturday denied meddling in Peru’s internal affairs.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry described these statements as “interference”.
“We give our opinion, that’s it,” López Obrador said on Saturday, speaking to the press in Monterrey (North).
“But it’s a violation […] For democracy, because if the people elected him (Castillo), why would they expel him? question.
Mr Castillo was removed on Wednesday by a vote in Parliament, which had just announced his dissolution, a maneuver immediately described as an attempted “coup” by many figures.
