Mexican President Lopez Obrador declared 'persona non grata' by Peru 

Peruvian lawmakers on Thursday voted to make Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador a “persona non grata” claiming that he meddled in national affairs. 

Peru’s Congress approved the decision with 65 votes in favor, 40 against it, and two abstentions. Although mostly symbolic, the designation as “persona non grata” makes the Mexican president unwelcome in the country.

Lawmakers claim that Lopez Obrador supported former leftist President Pedro Castillo, who was ousted last year after he attempted to dissolve Congress and stage a coup d’etat.

Castillo was arrested for the alleged crime of rebellion while he was on his way to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy. After his arrest, Castillo sought to seek asylum in Mexico by sending a letter to Lopex Obrador. 

In the months following the ousting, Lopez Obrador granted political asylum to former first lady Lilia Paredes and disqualified Peru’s current president, Dina Boluarte by calling her "usurper," "spurious" and "illegitimate." He has requested that Castillo be reinstated as head of the country. 

Boluarte, previously the vice president, was sworn into office hours after Castillo was arrested. Since assuming office, Boluarte has appointed several conservative politicians to her cabinet, creating a rift between Peru and other Latin American countries with leftist leaders. 

López Obrador's statements constitute a "violation of the principle of non-interference" in the internal affairs of other countries, said conservative parliamentarian María del Carmen Alva, who leads the Foreign Affairs Commission. 

"The Peruvian people do not accept acts of interference and meddling in our sovereignty," she added. 

Peruvian lawmakers have declared two other Latin American leaders “persona non grata” for similar reasons: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and former Bolivian President Evo Morales. 

“For me, it even gives me some sense of pride that these people are declaring me persona non grata,” Lopez Obrador said earlier this week.