Peru’s right-wing Congress refused Thursday to authorize leftist President Pedro Castillo to leave the country to attend Gustavo Petro’s inauguration as Colombia’s president on August 7.
The permission requested by Castillo received 67 votes against, 42 in favor and 5 abstentions during the plenary session broadcast by the parliament’s television channel.
It is the first time in the last three decades that at least one head of state sees his expectation of traveling on an official mission frustrated.
Among the legislators, it was alleged that the Peruvian president faces a record of five tax investigations for alleged corruption, an unprecedented situation in Peru for a sitting president.
Castillo had requested permission to leave the national territory from August 6 to 8.
According to the Peruvian left-wing government, the presence of the Peruvian president in Colombia would strengthen the historic ties of brotherhood and cooperation between the two countries.
According to Peruvian law, the President of the Republic needs authorization from Congress every time he wishes to travel abroad.