MEPs want to prevent the Colombian President from entering the country; Petro compared the Peruvian police to Nazi troops
The Peruvian Congress declared Colombian President Gustavo Pedro the country’s “persona non grata”. He also asked the executive to take “necessary measures” to prevent the Colombian leader from entering Peru.
The MPs approved the motion on Friday (02/17/2023). There were 72 votes in favour, 29 against and 7 abstentions.
The move came in response to Petro’s statement comparing Peruvian police to Nazi troops. On February 11, security officials held a parade in downtown Lima. Unions and social organizations gathered nearby to protest against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte.
“In Peru, they are marching like Nazis against their own people and breaking the American Convention on Human Rights,” the Colombian leader said during a ceremony inaugurating Colombian ambassadors.
The Peruvian Congress called the comments “unacceptable” and that “they constitute an insult to the Peruvian police, the Republic of Peru and, by trivializing the Holocaust, an insult to the entire Jewish people.”
CRISIS IN PERU
On Friday (02/17/2023) the Congress of Peru passed a draft legislative resolution accusing former President Pedro Castillo of three crimes: criminal organization, influence trading and collusion. There were 58 votes in favour, 23 against and 3 abstentions.
The measure allows Peru’s Attorney General Patrícia Benavides to launch a criminal case against Castillo after she filed a constitutional complaint against the former Peruvian president on October 11 over alleged crimes.
Castillo has been in custody since Congress approved his impeachment on December 7th. The measure was taken even after the leader attempted to dissolve the Peruvian legislature. VicePresident Dina Boluarte took over the presidency, albeit without support from the population.
A series of protests in favor of Castillo took place in the country. The protesters are also demanding Boluarte’s resignation. At least 65 people have died since December 2022.
The demonstrations also point to popular opposition to the draft law that would bring forward the national elections to April 2024. The elections are scheduled for the same month of 2026. However, the text was approved in the 1st round by Congress on December 20th and has yet to go through a second vote scheduled for March 15th.