Seven of the 66 Portuguese stranded in Peru still remain in the country, the government announced on Wednesday, underlining that it is making “every effort” to quickly and safely remove any Portuguese who wish to return.
“Of the 66 nationals stranded in Peru, 59 have currently left the country and airports are now operating regularly,” the State Department added (MNE) in a written response to Lusa.
According to the MNE, the Portuguese embassy in Lima, Peru’s capital, has “monitored this situation on a case-by-case basis”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that “it continues to make every effort to find solutions that allow the rapid and safe return of the remaining Portuguese citizens who wish to leave Peru”.
Peru is going through a political and social crisis as a result of the demonstrations that have shaken the country since the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo.
Protests began on December 7 in several regions of Peru, particularly in the capital Lima and in the southern part of the Peruvian Andes, after parliament removed Pedro Castillo from the presidency.
The resignation came after Castillo announced the dissolution of parliament and the creation of an emergency government, which would rule by decree, a move that was interpreted as an attempted coup.
Last week, the country’s Supreme Court ruled that Pedro Castillo, who is under investigation for rebellion, will be held in preventive detention for 18 months.
Former Vice President Dina Boluarte formed a government, but Peruvians also responded with protests and demonstrations that have claimed 23 lives and led to the closure of airports.
Boluarte, who defends the constitutional legality of his administration and ruled out leaving office on Saturday, has introduced a bill to bring forward the country’s general election to December 2023, a decision that has yet to be made by Congress.
The Peruvian government has declared a national emergency for a period of 30 days in response to the protests.
Events in the country stranded thousands of tourists in Peru, including Portuguese citizens.
Source: DN
