Mexico City, Mexico — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that Pedro Castillo is the lawful leader of Peru and called his impeachment by Peru’s congress an affront to democracy.
At his daily press conference on December 7, López Obrador expressed “deep concern” for the recent events that resulted in the removal and arrest of Castillo.
The Mexican head of state argued that the ouster was driven by economic interests and Castillo’s political adversaries.
“We are very sorry for what is happening, especially for the suffering of the brotherly people of Peru. Because in one way or another this originates from above, what we have always maintained, that the so-called political elite and the economic interests, the media, are the ones that provoke all this instability that harms the people,” said López Obrador.
On December 7, Peruvian legislators ousted Castillo after he attempted to disband Peru’s congress, prompting lawmakers to impeach the president over “permanent moral incapacity.”
Moments later, the deposed leader was arrested under charges of rebellion.
The Peruvian congress dismissed Castillo with 101 votes in favor, six against, and ten abstentions. However, López Obrador criticized Castillo’s impeachment stating that although the impeachment process is in the constitution, “it has a problem, an antidemocratic flaw of origin.”
López Obrador’s comments follow the joint statement issued by the governments of Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, and Argentina, where the four Latin-American countries denounced the current political crisis in Peru and Castillo’s removal from office.
“Our governments call on all sectors involved in [Castillo’s removal] to prioritize the will of the citizens pronounced at the ballot box …We urge those who are part of the institutions to refrain from reversing the popular will expressed through free voting,” read the joint statement.
In addition, López Obrador refused to recognize the presidency of Dina Boluarte, Castillo’s former vice president and now his successor. He also called for diplomatic relations with Peru to stop until the political crisis is surpassed.
Citing Mexico’s “Estrada Doctrine” — a diplomatic framework that establishes the Mexican government shall not intervene in other countries’ affairs nor recognize new state leaders — López Obrador said that recognizing Boluarte would be contrary to Mexico’s foreign policy principles.
The policy is aimed at not legitimizing leaders who took power after coups or by invading other countries.
