Crisis in the government of Peru due to the position in front of Venezuela: the prime minister publicly reprimanded the vice-chancellor

The figure of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday caused an internal crisis in the Peruvian government, after Prime Minister Guido Bellido publicly berated Vice Chancellor Luis Enrique Chávez for saying that the Pedro Castillo administration does not recognize Maduro’s legitimacy as president of the Caribbean country.

In a message posted on the social network Twitter, Bellido contradicted the Deputy Foreign Minister and said that “It is not the government’s position not to recognize legitimate authority in Venezuela.”

The Peruvian Prime Minister even assured that President Pedro Castillo had met Maduro during the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) held in Mexico. to resolve the migratory crisis in Venezuela, which makes Peru welcome nearly a million Venezuelan migrants.

This supposed meeting between Castillo and Maduro mentioned by Bellido had not been informed by either the Peruvian government or the Chavista regime.

“If the chancellor or his deputy doesn’t like it, they have the doors open,” Bellido said in a direct message to the foreign minister, Oscar Maurtua.

A few hours earlier, Vice-Chancellor Chavez had assured in statements to the national media that the Peruvian government has not recognized the legitimacy of any Venezuelan authority since January 5, 2021, the last time the Lima Group spoke on the Venezuelan crisis.

Chávez also pointed out that the indication received by Castillo is to support the “Intra-Venezuelan dialogue” between the different parties to reach a democratic consensus solution.

“We have already indicated that our support is the continuation of these talks under Norwegian facilitation. The best way is not to add new elements to distract this conversation “, a point.

Regarding the Lima Group, the vice-minister stressed that no formal act is necessary to formalize Peru’s exit from this multilateral mechanism promoted four years ago by the former Peruvian president. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski exert diplomatic pressure on Maduro.

In this regard, the Peruvian Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Harold ForsythHe said the Lima Group “has already completed its cycle” and that now the Peruvian government is committed to supporting talks between Chavismo and the opposition. Last month Peru even offered itself as an alternative seat to Mexico carry out the process of dialogue between the parties.

The chancellor Oscar Maúrtua told diplomatic delegations accredited to Lima that Peru offers its support for dialogues among Venezuelans “To make this process fruitful, by possibly proposing to be the alternative place of negotiations.”

“As a country that promotes international law and peaceful means of dispute settlement, Peru supports the facilitation that Norway has conducted under the hospitality of Mexico with the consensual approval of the entire international community.Said Maúrtua, who already held the same post between 2005-2006, when Peruvian president was Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006).

The dialogues take place under the mediation of Norway, who two years ago promoted a similar failed initiative. Representatives of Russia and Holland They also intervene in the process as companions of the regime and opposition delegations, respectively.

Maúrtua, who replaces Hector Béjar, who lasted 19 days in power, indicated that Peru will continue the international policy announced by the president Pedro Castillo August 13. The president has repeatedly indicated that Peru’s foreign policy It will be characterized by the principle of non-intervention, condemn unilateral blockades against nations, and maintain relations with all countries of the world without distinction.

Neither the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who travels with President Castillo, nor the Vice-Chancellor who is in Lima has commented on Bellido’s statements. This is the first time in this government that a prime minister has publicly denied members of the Foreign Ministry.

(With information from EFE and AP)

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