Overview
- At a campaign event in San Martín de Porres, Rafael López Aliaga told a mother seeking support for her autistic child that COVID-19 confinement under Martín Vizcarra caused a rise in autism.
- He labeled the pandemic measures as "genocide" and claimed people were locked in their homes for over three years without vaccines, food or water, offering no medical evidence.
- Health experts cited in coverage state there is no scientific basis linking lockdowns to autism, noting that reported prevalence increases reflect better detection, greater awareness and expanded diagnostic criteria.
- Streamers from the show Todo Good and autism advocates condemned the remarks as uninformed and offensive, fueling criticism across social platforms.
- López Aliaga, who resigned as Lima mayor on October 13 to formalize his 2026 presidential bid, is also facing scrutiny over municipal debt and separate attacks he made on Keiko Fujimori.