Mexico’s President Refuses to Recognize Peru’s Current Government

Castillo Remains “Legal and Legitimate President” for López Obrador

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, stated on Wednesday that Peru’s ousted president, Pedro Castillo, remains “the legal and legitimate president” of that country and that he was jailed as part of a “coup.”

“I maintain that he (Castillo) is the legal and legitimate president,” López Obrador said at his morning press briefing. “He suffered a coup.”

López Obrador Claims Peru’s Current Government is “Racist”

President López Obrador also claimed that Peru’s current government is “racist” and had jailed Castillo because he is indigenous. The comments were the most forceful indication yet that López Obrador doesn’t recognize current Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.

“They won’t accept Pedro Castillo because he is from the mountains, he is indigenous,” the president said.

Boluarte Took Office After Castillo’s Removal

Boluarte took office on December 7 after then-President Castillo was removed by Parliament and jailed after trying to dissolve Congress to avoid a vote on his removal from office. Castillo, who was Peru’s first leader from a rural Andean background, was plagued by corruption scandals and a revolving-door cabinet.

Mexico’s Position on Peru’s Government

López Obrador’s administration has not said that it would withdraw formal recognition of Boluarte’s government. However, relations between the two countries have suffered due to the Mexican president’s stance.

In February, Boluarte withdrew her country’s ambassador in response to previous comments by López Obrado. Mexico’s formal position is that it neither recognizes nor withholds recognition from other countries’ governments, but has not explained how that policy squares with López Obrador’s statements.

Street protests in Peru against Castillo’s removal began in December and have been answered by police actions that have left 67 dead overall, mostly protesters, according to Peru’s ombudsman.

Criticism of López Obrador’s Stance

While López Obrador has slammed the killing of protesters in Peru, he has been criticized for saying little about the hundreds of Nicaraguans killed or exiled by the government of President Daniel Ortega.

Conclusion

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has refused to recognize Peru’s current government, led by President Dina Boluarte, and claims that ousted President Pedro Castillo remains the “legal and legitimate president.” López Obrador has also accused Boluarte’s government of being “racist” and has sparked tensions between the two countries.

FAQs

* Q: Why has López Obrador refused to recognize Peru’s current government?
A: López Obrador believes that Pedro Castillo remains the “legal and legitimate president” of Peru and has been removed as part of a “coup”.
* Q: What has caused tensions between Mexico and Peru?
A: López Obrador’s comments on Peru’s government and its treatment of indigenous people, as well as the removal of Peru’s ambassador in response to previous comments, have caused tensions between the two countries.
* Q: What is the situation with street protests in Peru?
A: Street protests in Peru against Castillo’s removal began in December and have been answered by police actions that have left 67 dead overall, mostly protesters, according to Peru’s ombudsman.