Congress denies Castillo’s trip to Mexico

Lime. The Peruvian Congress yesterday denied permission to President Pedro Castillo to attend the XVII Summit of the Pacific Alliance to be held in Mexico City from November 24 to 26.

The permit was denied by 58 votes against 51 in favor and 2 abstentions in the parliamentary session.

Some legislators argued that Castillo’s trip was not convenient while he was facing investigations of alleged corruption, and a few days after the arrival in Lima, on November 20, of a mission from the Organization of American States (OAS) requested by the president to carry out an “objective” analysis of the political crisis in the country.

The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, had urged the Peruvian Congress on October 21 to authorize the departure from the country of his Peruvian counterpart, who was to receive the pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance for a period of one year from on January 1, 2023.

However, Congress authorized him -with 77 votes in favor and 35 against- to travel to Santiago de Chile on November 28 and 29 to attend the Presidential Meeting and IV Binational Cabinet between both countries.

Under Peruvian law, the president needs authorization from Congress every time he travels abroad.

It is not the first time that Congress, dominated by the right-wing opposition, has prevented him from traveling to Castillo on an official mission.

In October Castillo was unable to make working visits to Brussels, the Vatican and the International Organizations based in Rome.

In August, he was also unable to attend the inauguration of Gustavo Petro as president of Colombia, due to the refusal of Congress.

Castillo, who took office in July 2021, has survived two impeachment attempts by Congress and faces six tax investigations for alleged corruption.