Rodrigo Ernesto Rojas Vade[1] (born 10 October 1983)[2] is a Chilean former political activist who was elected in 2021 as a member of the Chilean Constitutional Convention.[3][4] He became an icon of the 2019 Chilean protests[5] falsely claiming to have leukaemia and alleging to be a victim of the healthcare system and using a discourse against high medical costs in Chile.[6][7] Later it was revealed that he actually had syphilis.[8][9]
Rodrigo Rojas Vade | |
|---|---|
 Rojas Vade in 2021 | |
| Member of the Constitutional Convention | |
| In office 4 July 2021 – 16 March 2022 | |
| Constituency | 13th District |
| Adjunct Vice President of the Constitutional Convention | |
| In office 29 July 2021 – 5 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Creation of the office |
| Succeeded by | Tania Madriaga |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rodrigo Ernesto Rojas Vade 10 October 1983 Santiago, Chile |
| Other political affiliations | The List of the People |
| Occupation | Political activist |
Rojas is nicknamed Pelao Vade (bald Vade)[10] and was one of founding members of The List of the People, a former far-left political grouping which won 17% of seats in the Convention.[11] He is openly gay.[12][13]
During his campaign in 2021, Rojas used his false diagnosis of cancer.[6] This revelation, brought to light by the Chilean newspaper La Tercera in September 2021, resulted in his resignation from the position of Adjunct Vice President of the Constitutional Convention, followed by his departure from the Convention entirely.[14] Also, the Public prosecutor's office indicted Rojas Vade for al teast 30 counts of residual fraud; and in Frebruary 2023, he was convicted and sentenced for committing this crime by the justice of his country.[7]
Biography
editEarly life
editBorn in Puente Alto, Rojas's father worked in Movistar, a Chilean telephone company, and his mother was a homemaker. He studied Theater at the Universidad Mayor, but dropped out due to his family's financial situation. Later he would become a technician in aeronautical prevention, being hired in 2009 by airliner LAN (now LATAM), where he served as a cabin crew member. He later went on to work as a flight attendant for Jetsmart Chile.[3]
Constitutional Convention
editIn May 2021, Rojas was elected as constituent for District 13,[3][15] representing working class communes of southern Santiago.[3]
Rojas's alleged cancer condition was met with empathy across the political spectrum, like fellow constituent Carol Bown of the right-wing UDI party,[16][17] with whom he participated in dialogues organized by broadcaster Chilevisión.[18][19]
In his September 2021 confession, Rojas said that several years before the election he had been diagnosed with a condition that carried a "great stigma" —which he did not reveal—, telling his family and friends that he had cancer.[6] The scandal was covered by many international news outlets.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Similarly, he was denounced by the Convention's board led by Elisa Loncón and Jaime Bassa, president and vice-president of that organ.[27]
On 8 September 2021, Rojas was expelled from "Pueblo Constituyente," the political force heir of the original List of the People.[28][29]
On 20 September 2021, Rojas tendered his resignation to the Convention, despite the fact that, at the time, the Constitution did not permit resignations unless they were due to certified medical reasons as determined by the Constitutional Court.[30]
On 11 March 2022, Rojas formally resigned from the Convention, coinciding with the publication of a constitutional reform passed by Congress to facilitate such resignations.[31]
References
edit- ^ "Constituyente electo - Rodrigo Ernesto Rojas Vade". La Tercera. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ pelao (2021-10-10). "Cumpleaños N•37 años y contando...Agradecido de todxs lxs trabajan en un centro de salud y son nuestra familia en los días grises #tensalcodigosanitario". Archived from the original on 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2021-09-09 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d "Quién es Rodrigo Rojas, el constituyente que advirtió un posible "paro" de la Convención por los presos del 18-O". Ex-Ante. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Séptima jornada de la Convención: Carabineros detiene a constituyentes de la Lista del Pueblo en protesta por presos del 18-O". Ex-Ante. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Pelao Vade, icono del estallido: "Nosotros seguimos endeudándonos y ellos siguen enriqueciéndose"". El Desconcierto. 26 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b c "Chile protest leader reveals he lied about having cancer". The Guardian. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ a b Séptimo Juzgado de Garantía de Santiago (13 February 2023). "Sentencia en procedimiento simplificado causa RIT: O-13437-2021 RUC: 2100807673-9". Consulta Unificada del Poder Judicial de Chile.
- ^ Rodrigo Rojas Vade, exconstituyente: "Preferí decir que era leucemia en vez de admitir que tenía sífilis". La Red. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Ni cáncer ni VIH: Abogado de Rodrigo Rojas Vade reveló su verdadero diagnóstico". CNN Chile. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ "La trastienda del encuentro cercano entre la ex subsecretaria de Piñera y el activista de la primera línea". El Líbero. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "El Mostrador - Rodrigo Rojas Vade, constituyente, fundador Lista del Pueblo y la previa a Convención". YouTube. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "La ruta que tomará La Lista del Pueblo". Radio Pauta. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Convención Constituyente tendrá ocho integrantes LGBTIQ+". Les Constituyentes (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ "Rodrigo Rojas Vade presenta renuncia a la vicepresidencia de la Convención Constitucional tras reconocer que mintió sobre padecer cáncer". La Tercera. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "El Mostrador - Rodrigo Rojas Vade, constituyente, fundador Lista del Pueblo y la previa a Convención". YouTube. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Convencionales y revelación de Rodrigo Rojas Vade: es un "grave daño a la fe pública" y "se equivocó gravemente"". El Mostrador. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Carol Bown y caso Rojas Vade: «Estoy sorprendida y desilusionada, pero no creo que haya que hacer un tema de esto. Hay mucho que avanzar»". Radio Futuro. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "La UDI y la Lista del Pueblo, cara a cara: El futuro de Carabineros según Carol Bown y Rodrigo Rojas Vade". Chilevisión. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "La trastienda del encuentro cercano entre la ex subsecretaria de Piñera y el activista de la primera línea". El Líbero. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ^ "Escándalo en Chile por constituyente y líder de las protestas que simuló tener cáncer". El Comercio. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Polémica en Chile por constituyente y líder de protestas que simuló cáncer". Infobae. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Escándalo en Chile: un político fingió estar enfermo de cáncer". Infobae. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Uno de los vicepresidentes de la Constituyente engaña a Chile con un falso cáncer". El País. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
- ^ "Renuncia un vicepresidente de la Convención Constitucional de Chile tras fingir un cáncer". France 24. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Chilean constituent who faked cancer resigns as vice-president of body drafting new Constitution". The Rio Times. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "One of the vice presidents of the Constituent Assembly deceives Chile with a false cancer". Market Research Telecast. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- ^ "Elisa Loncón declaró ante la PDI en calidad de denunciante por caso Rojas Vade". Radio Bío-Bío. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Pueblo Constituyente anuncia expulsión de Rojas Vade y decide dejar vacante su cupo en la vicepresidencia". Radio Bío-Bío. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Pueblo Constituyente informó que Rodrigo Rojas Vade ya no pertenece a la agrupación: "Los hechos que se le imputan son graves"". El Mostrador. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Rodrigo Rojas Vade renuncia a la Convención Constitucional: "No volveré a asistir o participar de ninguna otra votación, independiente de mi estado de salud"". La Tercera. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Palacios, Cristóbal (2022-03-12). "Rojas Vade hace oficial su renuncia a la Convención Constitucional". La Tercera. Retrieved 2023-05-15.