Latin America looks shocked at the crisis in Peru

The President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, and the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, during a meeting on September 17, 2021. PRESIDENCY

It was a first moment of stupor and then of waiting.

The speed with which events were unfolding in Peru hardly gave time to test any kind of reaction in the foreign ministries of Latin America.

Silence was general, with the sole exception of Argentina and Mexico.

The first spoke of a "political crisis" and called for the protection "of democratic institutions."

The second called to "respect democracy and human rights."

The rest of the foreign services preferred to wait for the fate of Pedro Castillo's onslaught against Congress and his subsequent parliamentary dismissal.

More information

Political crisis in Peru, live |

Peruvian media say that Castillo has been arrested

"Argentina regrets and expresses its deep concern about the political crisis that the sister Republic of Peru is going through, and calls on all political and social actors to protect democratic institutions, the rule of law and the constitutional order," it published. in a tweet the official account of the Argentine Foreign Ministry.

Buenos Aires maintained good relations with the now ex-president Pedro Castillo during the 16 months that he was in power.

The Peruvian even went so far as to ask Buenos Aires for diplomatic help when attempts were made by Congress to remove him.

Argentina regrets and expresses its deep concern over the political crisis that the sister Republic of Peru is going through, and calls on all political and social actors to safeguard democratic institutions, the rule of law and constitutional order.

– Argentine Foreign Ministry 🇦🇷 (@CancilleriaARG) December 7, 2022

Mexico personalized the message.

The Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said from his Twitter account that his country regretted "the latest events in Peru (...) that endearing brother people."

A few minutes before, he had advanced the suspension, for the second time, of the Summit of the Pacific Alliance scheduled for December 14 in Lima.

"I will keep you informed," said the minister.

The meeting was scheduled for November 25 in Mexico, but President Andrés Manuel López Obrador decided to suspend it because the Peruvian Congress had denied Castillo a travel permit.

Mexico regrets the latest events in Peru and wishes respect for democracy and human rights for the good of that endearing sister nation.

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) December 7, 2022

Later Chile spoke, in the same terms as Argentina and Mexico.

In no case was reference made to a coup d'état or Pedro Castillo was named.

Much less, the decision of Congress to remove him and his subsequent arrest.

"The Government of Chile deeply regrets the political situation that the Republic of Peru is experiencing," the Chilean Foreign Ministry released in a statement. "and trusts that this crisis that affects a sister country can be resolved through democratic mechanisms and the respect for the rule of law”.

Like Mexico, Chile also called for respect for "human rights and fundamental freedoms" and reaffirmed "its commitment to democracy and dialogue as the way to overcome this complex moment."

Colombia, in turn, did refer to the events in Peru as an "attack against democracy."

And she warned that she condemns him "wherever he comes from", in reference to Castillo's leftist origin.

"Colombia remembers that democracy requires the recognition of the popular will expressed both in the elections for president and for Congress," the Colombian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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