Former Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in a corruption scheme during his tenure as governor of Moquegua. In addition to the prison term, a Peruvian court also imposed a nine-year ban from holding public office and levied a financial penalty.

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Details of the Corruption Case

The conviction stems from Vizcarra’s time as governor of the southern region of Moquegua from 2011 to 2014, before he became Peru’s president from 2018 to 2020. He was found guilty of accepting bribes exceeding $600,000 in exchange for awarding contracts for large-scale infrastructure projects in the region.

“This is not justice, it is revenge,” Vizcarra wrote on social media after the verdict. “But they will not break me.”

Vizcarra indicated he intends to appeal the decision, but he is expected to begin serving his prison sentence immediately.

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Political Context and Impact

Vizcarra’s sentencing highlights endemic political instability and corruption in Peru, where several former presidents are facing criminal charges or serving prison terms. Since 2018, Peru has had six presidents, with several removed through impeachment or resigning amid corruption scandals.

• Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Vizcarra’s predecessor, resigned in 2018 over allegations of attempting to buy congressional votes to avoid impeachment and involvement in the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht scandal.
• Vizcarra himself faced impeachment in 2020 over alleged “moral incapacity,” though he has denied wrongdoing and claimed his prosecution was politically motivated.

The former president’s current political influence continues through the Peru First party, where he serves as a close adviser. His older brother, Mario Vizcarra, is expected to run in the 2026 presidential election, continuing the family’s political presence.

“They’ve removed me from office. They’ve barred me from holding public office. They’ve expelled me from my party. And now they’re throwing me in jail,” Vizcarra said on social media. “Are they so afraid of Vizcarra?”

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Implications for Peru’s Political Landscape

• The sentencing further underscores the challenges of governance in Peru, where corruption has eroded public trust in political institutions.
• It may influence the 2026 elections, as voters weigh the legacy of past leaders and ongoing corruption scandals.
• Analysts suggest the ruling could intensify political polarization and continue Peru’s cycle of rapid leadership changes.

Peru’s judiciary has been actively pursuing corruption cases against former leaders, signaling a strong anti-corruption stance, but critics argue that prosecutions are sometimes politically motivated, complicating public perception of justice.