LIMA, Peru — Peru’s Congress has voted to declare Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum persona non grata, intensifying a diplomatic standoff between the two nations after Mexico granted asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez, who faces charges linked to a 2022 coup attempt.
In a heated session on Thursday, lawmakers voted 63 to 33 in favour of the motion, accusing President Sheinbaum of “interfering in Peru’s internal affairs.”
The decision came just days after Lima severed diplomatic ties with Mexico over what it described as “unfriendly acts” by the Mexican government.
Chávez, who denies any involvement in the attempted coup by ousted President Pedro Castillo, sought refuge at the Mexican embassy in Lima earlier this week. Mexico confirmed it had granted her asylum “in accordance with international law,” invoking the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum, which allows states to protect individuals facing political persecution.
“In reality, Peruvians live and want to continue living in democracy, as recognised by all countries in the world — with the sole and lonely exception of Mexico,”
said Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela in remarks to Reuters.
Some Peruvian legislators went further during the debate, alleging without evidence that Sheinbaum had links to drug trafficking, a claim Mexico has not responded to.
Chávez, who had been imprisoned in June 2023 before being released on bail in September, faces a 25-year prison sentence if convicted. Prosecutors accuse her of supporting Castillo’s failed attempt to dissolve Congress and rule by decree — an act that led to his ouster and arrest.
Mexico’s decision to shelter Chávez mirrors its earlier move in 2022 to grant asylum to Castillo’s wife and children, prompting Peru to expel the Mexican ambassador.
The declaration against Sheinbaum marks a new low in relations between the two Latin American nations, with analysts warning that the escalating feud could hinder regional cooperation and trade.
Earlier this year, Peru’s Foreign Relations Committee had already proposed declaring Sheinbaum persona non grata for failing to condemn Castillo’s attempted coup and advocating for his release — a position now formalised by the full Congress.
Peru has since recalled its diplomatic staff from Mexico City, while legal experts review whether Mexico’s asylum offer complies with regional treaties.
