The leftist governments of Mexico, Argentina and Colombia threw their support behind Pedro Castillo, the Peruvian leader impeached last week for attempting to dissolve congress, adding a new political twist amid violent clashes that left seven dead in the Andean country.
(Bloomberg) — The leftist governments of Mexico, Argentina and Colombia threw their support behind Pedro Castillo, the Peruvian leader impeached last week for attempting to dissolve congress, adding a new political twist amid violent clashes that left seven dead in the Andean country.
The three countries, as well as Bolivia, issued a joint statement late Monday calling on Peru to respect the rights of Castillo, who they refer to as Peru’s president even after he was ousted by congress. The governments expressed their “profound concern for the recent events that resulted in the removal and the detention of President Pedro Castillo.”
Since he was elected in 2021, Castillo was the victim of an “anti-democratic persecution” the governments said, adding that the will of the Peruvian people must be respected.
While the statement stops short of calling for Castillo’s reinstatement, it complicates the attempts by the government of President Dina Boluarte, who took office after his ousting, to establish itself amid a volatile political situation. The four Latin American nations are close ideological allies of Castillo, who was impeached and then arrested on Dec. 7 after attempting to dissolve congress.
Peru’s Foreign Affairs Ministry quickly rejected the position of the neighboring nations, saying Peru’s transition of power followed the constitutional order and that Castillo’s decision to shut congress amounted to a coup d’etat. On Dec. 9, the Boluarte administration had warned Mexico not to interfere in Peru’s internal affairs.
Read More: Peru Warns Mexico Asylum Offer Interferes in Internal Affairs
As political uncertainty and violence spread across the country, the Boluarte government announced its intention of calling for early elections in April 2024, two years ahead of schedule. Castillo’s supporters are asking for his release from the police base where he is being detained on the outskirts of Lima.
At least seven demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces, according to La Republica newspaper, while police said 15 of their officers were injured by an explosive. At least 11 highways remain blocked in different sections around the country, the police also said, affecting transit and commerce in the world’s second-largest copper producer.
Freeport-McMoRan Inc., operator of the Cerro Verde copper mine, said it’s experiencing some delays in transport of people, supplies and product due to the protests, according to an emailed response to questions.
Read More: Peru President’s Call for Early Elections Fails to Curb Chaos
–With assistance from Daniel Cancel.
(Updates with political context in fourth paragraph, Peru government’s statement in fifth paragraph.)
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
