RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Bolivian interim government declared on Monday, December 30th, the Mexican ambassador Maria Teresa Mercado and the Spanish diplomats Cristina Borreguero and Álvaro Fernández as personas non gratas, giving them 72 hours to leave the country.
“This group of representatives of the governments of Mexico and Spain has seriously damaged the sovereignty of the people and the constitutional government of Bolivia,” said Jeanine Añez, the country’s interim president.
The announcement was made in a statement from the La Paz Government Palace.
The three diplomats were accused of trying to help former members of the ousted president’s government, Evo Morales, to leave the residence of the Mexican ambassador, where they have been since Morales’ resignation in November, and to leave the country.
On November 11th, Mexico granted political asylum to former Bolivian President Evo Morales. The Bolivian leader resigned on Sunday, November 10th, after a 21-day wave of protests.