Peru President Martin Vizcarra addresses the media outside Congress as he faces a second indictment on 9 November 2020 in Lima, Peru. REUTERS / Sebastian Castaneda / File Photo
Former Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra has been banned from holding public office for ten years by the country’s Congress after he allegedly jumped in line to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Vizcarra has been convicted of influencing conspiracy, conspiracy and making false statements regarding the GDP vaccine scandal in Peru, which has resulted in numerous ministers and public officials receiving Synopharm vaccinations before it becomes available in the country wash. read more
Congress approved its temporary ban from public office by 86 votes to zero.
It also declared former health minister Pilar Mazzetti, eight years old, incompetent; 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 denied using their positions to gain early access to vaccines.
Vizcarra said in February he and his wife were vaccinated in October last year as volunteers for the Sinopharm (1099.HK) trial in Peru – an allegation denied by the university hosting the trial.
The former president took office in March 2018 on a pledge to combat endemic corruption in public office and ruled the country until he was indicted by Congress in November last year on separate corruption charges, which he still denies.
He would take a seat in Congress after the election in Peru at the weekend, having obtained the highest number of votes for any legislature.
Sinopharm’s clinical trials in Peru took place between September and the end of 2020 with about 12,000 volunteers. In addition, local managers of the trial received 3,200 additional doses intended for research-related staff, Cayetano Heredia Host University said.
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