Peru's former president banned from office

The Peruvian Congress on Friday approved the disqualification of former President Martin Vizcarra from holding public office for ten years, over his alleged irregular vaccination against COVID 19.

With 86 votes in favour, zero against and zero abstentions, the plenary of the Congress voted against the ex-president, who was allegedly vaccinated with the Chinese Sinopharm shot, a case known as the "Vacunagate".

According to a report of the Subcommittee of Constitutional Accusations and a Permanent Commission, Vizcarra committed infractions against six articles of the Constitution.

Vizcarra allegedly received two doses of the Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus from a batch that the Chinese laboratory sent to Peru to inoculate personnel related to the trials being carried out in Peru since 2020.

Speaking to the media after receiving the ruling of the Congress, the former president said "it has not taken us by surprise at all".

"We are confident that this measure will be reversed in the corresponding instances; both national and international autonomous institutions will reverse this situation", he added.

(Image Credits: Associated Press)