Peru appoints six new ambassadors, including three political appointees

The government of President Keiko Fujimori has appointed six new plenipotentiary ambassadors for Peru, according to supreme resolutions published in the official gazette, El Peruano. The new cohort consists of three career diplomats and three political appointees.

The political appointees include Ricardo Ghibellini Harten, a journalist and political analyst, who will serve in Colombia; José Barba Caballero, a former legislator and television host, who will serve in Costa Rica; and an appointee for Paraguay. The career diplomats from the Diplomatic Academy will represent Peru in Guyana, Canada, and Mexico.

Foreign Minister Carlos Espá has defended the use of non-career appointments, noting that the Constitution allows the president to appoint up to 20% of ambassadors from outside the professional diplomatic service.