Mexico suspends Pacific Alliance summit due to absence of Peruvian president

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador suspended the Pacific Alliance Summit on Tuesday after Peruvian Congress refused to allow President Pedro Castillo to leave the country.

"The Pacific Alliance meeting was suspended because the president of Peru was not allowed to attend and it is his turn to (receive) the temporary presidency," the Mexican leader said at a news conference. "We are exploring the possibility of holding an event in Peru" the first week of December, he added.

The summit was scheduled to begin Nov. 25 in Mexico City. It was intended to bring together Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile to reaffirm regional cooperation and rotate the presidency of the organization.

Although Castillo was supposed to take the leadership, lawmakers prohibited him from leaving the country. It is the third time that the Peruvian Congress, controlled by a coalition of right-wing parties, has prevented Castillo from international travel.

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

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

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

“I appreciate the solidarity and support of the brother president of Mexico, by putting the common interest of our peoples above any political irresponsibility that a certain sector caused by preventing my trip to his generous country,” Castillo wrote on Twitter after Lopez Obrador made the announcement.

Despite the cancelation, Lopez Obrador is scheduled to meet Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who already confirmed his attendance at the summit.