PERU’S Congress on Thursday declared that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is now persona non grata in their country.

This came after Mexico decided to grant asylum to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chavez, in what Peruvian officials called repeated interference in their country’s internal affairs.

Right-wing congressmen accused President Sheinbaum of hostility towards Peru since she took office in 2024 by backing the ousted Peruvian President Pedro Castillo.

The Marxist Mr Castillo was overthrown in a “constitutional coup” in 2022 and remains in jail.

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said later Thursday that the Peruvian decision was based on “false assertions” and that “Mexico has not intervened in any way in Peru’s internal affairs.”

On Monday, Peru’s interim President Jose Jeri severed diplomatic relations with Mexico over Ms Sheinbaum’s decision to grant asylum to Ms Chavez, who is being prosecuted for the attempted dissolution of Congress that preceded Mr Castillo’s overthrow.

Peruvian authorities are seeking a sentence of up to 25 years in prison for Ms Chavez, who served under Mr Castillo.

Ms Chavez, who is currently in a Mexican diplomatic residence, has yet to be granted safe passage by Peru to leave the country.