Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra addresses the media outside of Congress as he faces a second impeachment trial for corruption allegations, in Lima, Peru on Nov. 9, 2020. REUTERS / Sebastian Castaneda / File Photo
Former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra has been unanimously barred from holding public office at the country’s congress for 10 years after allegedly jumping in line to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Vizcarra was found guilty of influencing, collusion and making false statements in connection with the VIP vaccination scandal in Peru, in which dozens of ministers and government officials received Sinopharm vaccines before they were made public in the country. read more
Congress passed his temporary ban from public office with 86 votes in favor and zero against.
It also disqualified former Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti from holding public office for eight years; and former Secretary of State Elizabeth Astete for a year.
Both former ministers received the vaccine and resigned during the ensuing scandal. However, all three have denied using their position to gain early access to vaccines.
Vizcarra said he and his wife were vaccinated in February of the previous year as volunteers for the Sinopharm trial (1099.HK) in Peru – a claim denied by the university organizing the trial.
The former president took office in March 2018 with a pledge to curb endemic corruption in public office and headed the country until he was impeached by Congress in November last year on separate corruption allegations, which he continues to deny.
He was due to sit in Congress following the weekend elections in Peru, having obtained the highest number of votes cast for any legislature.
Sinopharm’s clinical trials in Peru took place between September and the end of 2020 with approximately 12,000 volunteers. In addition, local managers of the trial received 3,200 additional doses intended for staff involved in the trial, said host university Cayetano Heredia.
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