Castillo’s Family Arrives in Mexico as Its Spat With Peru Grows

(Bloomberg) -- Impeached Peruvian President Pedro Castillo’s wife and two children arrived in Mexico City after being granted diplomatic asylum, a decision that prompted the Andean nation to oust the Mexican ambassador.

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Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced their arrival at his daily press conference on Wednesday. He said Peru’s move to expel Mexico’s “patriotic ambassador” Pablo Monroy reflected the government’s “choice in favor of repression and to not seek an exit to Peru’s conflict through dialogue and the democratic method of convoking elections as soon as possible.”

Monroy remains in Lima for now, said AMLO, as the Mexican leader is known, though the government wants him to return home as soon as possible.

Peru had declared Monroy persona non grata as ambassador on Tuesday, giving him 72 hours to leave after the Mexican government said it had granted diplomatic asylum to the ex-head of state’s family members. Foreign Minister Cecilia Gervasi provided former First Lady Lilia Paredes and the children, who fled to Mexico’s Embassy after Castillo’s impeachment Dec. 7, safe passage out of the country in keeping with a regional asylum convention.

The decision to expel Monroy was made “due to the repeated expressions” of Mexico’s highest authorities regarding the political situation in Peru, Gervasi said Tuesday via Twitter.

“Such expressions constitute an interference in the internal affairs of the country and therefore violate the principle of non-intervention,” Gervasi said about Mexico’s statements on Peru’s political crisis.

Regional Rift

Castillo was arrested en route to the Mexican Embassy in Lima on Dec. 7, and a judge ordered his detention for 18 months amid the probe into allegations of rebellion and conspiracy against the state and constitutional order. His former running mate Dina Boluarte was sworn in by the congress as his successor.

The impeachment of the former rural schoolteacher has led to a rift between nations in the hemisphere. The US, Canada, Chile and Ecuador recognize Boluarte while, on the other hand, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico continue to support Castillo, who is also dogged by corruption allegations.

AMLO on Wednesday criticized US recognition of Boluarte and said that Castillo hadn’t committed any crime.

On Monday, the Peruvian Foreign Ministry sent Colombia a note of protest for President Gustavo Petro’s “unacceptable interference” in domestic affairs.

Read more: Peru Says Colombia’s Petro Interfering in Its Affairs

Meanwhile, Peru’s congress late Tuesday approved a constitutional reform to hold early presidential elections, marking a second bid to alleviate the political crisis.

Boluarte has repeatedly called for early elections and political reforms before her term ends in 2026 while ruling out her resignation. Her second cabinet is led by Prime Minister Luis Alberto Otarola, a lawyer who was defense minister in her short-lived first cabinet.

Read More: Peru Congress Approves Constitutional Reform to Vote Early

--With assistance from Alex Vasquez, Robert Jameson and Cyntia Barrera Diaz.

(Recasts with comments from Mexican president and adds Peru cabinet changes)

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