(MENAFN- The Rio Times) Peru's Congress has declared Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, persona non grata after Mexico granted diplomatic asylum to former Peruvian prime minister Betssy Chávez.

The vote-63 in favor, 33 against, two abstentions-came days after Lima severed diplomatic relations with Mexico. Chávez remains inside Mexico's diplomatic residence in Lima while Peru weighs a safe-conduct that would let her fly out.

For readers outside the region, the core issue isn't just one politician's fate-it's how two neighboring democracies interpret the rules that keep politics from spilling across borders.

Peru says Mexico crossed a line by offering refuge to a figure under criminal prosecution connected to December 7, 2022, when then-president Pedro Castillo announced the dissolution of Congress ahead of an impeachment vote.

Prosecutors in Peru are seeking a sentence of up to 25 years for Chávez over her role at the time. Supporters of the congressional move argue that, after a bruising constitutional crisis, the country must show that institutions-not personalities-decide outcomes.



Mexico rejects the charge of interference, saying asylum is a lawful, humanitarian tool. That view emphasizes protection from political persecution.
Peru-Mexico standoff raises stakes
Peru's stance emphasizes due process and the right of a judiciary to finish its work without outside shelter for high-profile defendants. Those two instincts-protection versus process-often coexist in Latin America; this case forces a choice.

Why this matters to expats and foreign investors: ruptured relations can slow consular services, delay visas and paperwork, and complicate business problem-solving.

Both countries want to shield trade-more than $2.5 billion a year-and they remain partners in the Pacific Alliance. But experience shows that when embassies are hollowed out, small frictions become big headaches.

The next decision is pivotal: if Peru grants a safe-conduct, the temperature drops and everyone moves on. If it delays or denies, expect a longer standoff that hardens public positions and makes routine cross-border life more difficult.

Behind the scenes, this is a stress test of how the region balances ideals with institutions. Peru is signaling that rules and accountability must prevail after a turbulent period.

Mexico is signaling that humanitarian refuge still matters-even when it involves powerful figures. How that balance is struck will shape future crises well beyond Lima and Mexico City.

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