Peru uninvited Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from the Summit of the Americas —scheduled for April in Lima— due to concerns over his Government's attempt to block democratic presidential elections, Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Cayetana Aljovin reaffirmed.
According to the high-ranking official, attendance is
permitted only by invitation, and the host country is free to decide who should be invited to the forum.
President Nicolas Maduro received an invitation to said Summit in November 2017, when his Government and the opposition discussed peaceful solutions to
Venezuela's crisis.
But then, the Peruvian Government stated he would
no longer be welcome at the event following Venezuela's decision to call early
presidential elections, as this prevents the neighboring country from holding a democratic process.
Aljovin's statements were made on Monday at Congress' Foreign Affairs Committee.
The
Summit of the Americas will address key topics such as governance and fight against corruption in Lima on April 13-14.