An unexpected statement from the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chavesturned on the Diplomatic controversy This Thursday, May 22, 2025, after publicly ensuring Lucrecia Peinadowife of Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo is exiled in Mexico for fear of Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office.
The reaction of Guatemala Government It was not long in coming: He denied the statement and established contacts by diplomatic route, while the Public Ministry also went out for Defend your independence and reject any signaling.
Chaves’s statements They were issued during their traditional conference Weekly press on May 21.
“The lady of President Arévalo is a refugee, being First Lady, in Mexico for months, for fear of a corrupt prosecutor’s office”he said, and added that “The president had to send his wife to political asylum so that they do not try to hit him out there”said Chaves.
The comment occurred in response to a question about judicial independence in Costa Rica, but quickly resulted in a direct signaling to Guatemalan institutions.
Guatemala government reaction
Given these statements, the Guatemala government reacted on Thursday, May 22 through the Secretary of Communication of the Presidency, Santiago Palomowho described as false The statement of the Costa Rican president.
“We do not know where this information comes from. It is not true”Palomo emphasized.
“The first lady has been attending family issues and has also participated in official tours, all publicly and documented. He has recently had activities in Mexico and Panama, and in the next few days he will join the tour of President Arévalo to Taiwan and Japan. He subsequently has commitments in Europe along with other first ladies and knights”he added.
Palomo also stressed that Chaves’s statement, although erroneous, reflects a International worrying perception regarding the act of Public Ministry.
“The truth is that President Chaves points out on an important issue: the image that the Prosecutor’s Office has in the International Forum. It is a reflection of how the world perceives excessive criminalization in Guatemala”Said the presidential spokesman.
Asked about the existence of some criminal investigation against the first lady, Palomo was clear: “From the Executive we do not know that there is any. That consultation must be addressed to the Public Ministry and the corresponding instances of the justice system.”.
Public Ministry response
And the response of MP It soon. Through a official statementthe institution categorically rejected the accusations of the Costa Rican president, qualifying them unfounded and Based on conjectures.
“These statements seem to be based on conjectures and misinformation, possibly disseminated by actors interested in discrediting the work of the Public Ministry”said the entity, and clarified: “According to our official records, the citizen Lucrecia Peinado does not appear as an object of investigation, nor is it linked to any criminal record”.
The MP also denounced that this type of comment They promote misinformation And they look “Affect ongoing research and undermine citizen trust”.
For now, the Guatemalan Executive reported that they have established Communication channels between the Foreign Ministry of both countries after Chaves’s statements. However, it has not been confirmed if President Arévalo will establish a direct dialogue with his Costa Rican counterpart.
Posture of deputies
Several deputies spoke in relation to the case of Lucrecia Peinado, wife of President Bernardo Arévalo, after the president of Costa Rica said he is exiled in Mexico and ensure that statements of the president of that country could be due to poor communication
Deputy Andrea Reyes, of the official block, said they have knowledge that hairstyle making diplomatic visits with different authorities globally, as part of the functions she has assumed in office.
Regarding the statements of the president of Costa Rica about a possible criminal prosecution by the MP against Haje, the deputy said: “It seems to me that it could have been some poor communication that he has had about this and that is why he expressed it. On the other hand, more than that, I think it has to do with the bad reputation of the Attorney General – Consuelo Porras – at a global level and that has already undertaken this kind of actions with other members.
Deputy Inés Castillo, head of the bench of the National Unit of Hope (UNE), said that the president of Costa Rica took with greatness in making an affirmation that, according to him. “He does not know,” and said it was successful that the Presidency of the Republic clarified the situation around the president’s wife.
Deputy Sandra Jovel, of the value block, commented that she had no knowledge of the situation until she saw it in the media, and said it was unfortunate that hairstyle has to be asylum if it owes nothing. He also said that it is not correct for another country to disseminate such an important news that it is up to Guatemala.