Peru confirms Pacific Alliance will be held on December 14 in Lima

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Leaders of Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Peru will meet in Lima on Dec. 14 for the Pacific Alliance meeting, Peru's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

“Confirmed: Peru will receive the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance in Lima on December 14,” the ministry published via its official Twitter account.

The meeting was previously postponed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador after Peru's President Pedro Castillo was not allowed to leave the country for the event.

The summit that was scheduled to begin on Nov. 25 in Mexico City, was intended to bring together the countries to reaffirm regional cooperation and to hand over the presidency of the trade bloc to Peru.

Lawmakers prohibited Castillo from leaving the country, the third time that congress, controlled by a coalition of right-wing parties, prevents the president from traveling internationally.

The Peruvian parliament is in charge of authorizing presidential trips to foreign countries, but ​​this is the first time in decades that a president is denied the opportunity to travel on official missions.

Castillo is facing five investigations for alleged corruption, an unprecedented situation in the nation that is going through one of its worst political crises.

On Tuesday, a new presidential motion was presented to parliament against Castillo. The motion was signed by 67 lawmakers from various political parties.

The president has gone through two unsuccessful impeachment proceedings, and he has made more than 50 changes to his cabinet. He is facing investigations for allegedly committing crimes related to “criminal organization”. Castillo has denied the allegations saying “economic interest groups” are looking to oust him.

Lopez Obrador and President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, have ratified their support for holding the Alliance summit in Peru.