Peru bans government officials from entering Venezuela.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, members of his government, and their families will be banned from entering Peruvian territory. This decision comes on the eve of Maduro assuming his third presidential term, a re-election not recognized by Peru.
By Agência Brasil*
Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, members of his government, and their families will be prohibited from entering Peruvian territory.
The decision comes on the eve of Maduro assuming his third presidential term, a re-election that is not recognized by Peru and 14 other countries in the region, including Brazil.
According to the foreign minister, the measure is part of the agreements adopted by the member countries of the Lima Group, of which Brazil is a part, as a way to exert international pressure to condemn the democratic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
"The Peruvian [government] will send a communication to the immigration superintendent with a list of all the names linked to the Maduro regime, including family members, informing them that they cannot enter the country," said Nestor Popolizio.
The chancellor noted that, in the case of Venezuela, a visa is not required to enter Peruvian territory, but the Peruvian government has the prerogative to impose immigration restrictions.
"What we want is to exert direct pressure on the Maduro regime, on the main government, to allow them to return to democracy," the minister said.
He added that this type of measure leads to the isolation of Maduro's government, "whose anti-democratic decisions have caused an internal crisis in that country."
Popolizio noted that the Lima Group does not recognize Maduro's new presidential term, which will begin on January 10, and confirmed that Peru will not attend the inauguration ceremony.
*With information from Andina, the official news agency of Peru.