Peru’s political landscape has been shaken once again after former President Martín Vizcarra was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a high-profile corruption case. The court ruled that Vizcarra engaged in irregularities in reconstruction and public procurement processes before assuming the presidency.
According to the court, Vizcarra accepted illegal payments from several construction companies between 2011 and 2014, during his tenure as governor of the southern city of Moquegua. He was found guilty of receiving bribes amounting to approximately USD 676,000 in exchange for awarding public construction contracts.
Shortly after the verdict was announced, Vizcarra reacted on the social platform X, reiterating his claim that he is a victim of political retaliation. Since the beginning of the trial, he has consistently denied all allegations against him.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court barred Vizcarra from holding public office for the next nine years. His legal representatives confirmed that they have already filed an appeal challenging the decision.
Meanwhile, Vizcarra’s brother, Mario Vizcarra, is preparing to run for president in the April 2026 elections under the “Peru First” party. Martín Vizcarra continues to serve as a senior advisor within the same political group.
Vizcarra is expected to be placed in a Lima-based prison where three other former Peruvian presidents are already incarcerated:
– Alejandro Toledo — serving a sentence for corruption
– Ollanta Humala — imprisoned on corruption charges
– Pedro Castillo — held in pre-trial detention for rebellion-related accusations
Since 2018, Peru has been caught in a cycle of impeachments, resignations, and corruption scandals. During this period, the country has gone through six presidents, raising serious concerns over political stability and governance, analysts say.
