Politician caught vaping during Parliament health reform session

A Colombian lawmaker has apologised for “setting a bad example” moments before she spoke during a health debate.

A Colombian lawmaker has been caught having a vape in parliament moments before she was called on to speak during a health reform debate.

Cathy Juvinao, a Congresswoman in the country’s capital, Bogotá, went viral this week after she was seen puffing on an e-cigarette when she thought no one was looking.

The camera was focused on House of Representatives President, Jaime Salamanca, but panned to Ms Juvinao who was inhaling on the yellow device.

When she realised she had been spotted, she quickly blew out the smoke and tucked the vape into her pocket away from the camera’s view.

Just moments later, Ms Juvinao, a member of the Green Alliance, was called to speak and grabbed the microphone to address her colleagues about the country’s health systems.

The irony was not lost on people, with many taking to social media to call her out for the lapse in judgement.

“This sums up humanity,” one comment read.

“That’s crazy,” said someone else, while another called it “embarrassing”.

A politician was caught vaping during a health reform session. Picture: Cathy Juvinao

“Such a bad example as a leader,” a third added. “So unprofessional. She couldn’t wait until she was outside?”

“This is such a joke,” someone else replied, with another calling it “tacky”.

“She forgot where she was,” another commented.

When she realised she was being filmed, she quickly blew out the smoke and put the vape away. Picture: Picture: Cathy Juvinao

Ms Juviano later apologised, acknowledging she was at fault.

“I apologise to the citizens for what happened yesterday in the plenary session,” the lawmaker wrote on X.

“I will not join the bad example that is currently dominating public discourse and it will not be repeated. Rest assured that today I will continue to fight from the House with the same arguments and rigour as always.”

However, rival congressional members were quick to point out that she also broke the local law that bans the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes in indoor settings.

“Dear Representative Cathy Juvinao, Bill 2354 of 2024 prohibits the use of vapes in closed spaces, such as offices, bars, restaurants, and public transportation,” Eduard Sarmiento tweeted on X.

“The goal is to protect nonsmokers from exposure to vapour. No cheap moralism, but the laws must be followed,” the party member added.

Another wrote, “If Congresswoman Juvinao does not care about destroying her health in the midst of a debate on health, what will she care about the health of the poorest Colombians?”

She later apologised for her behaviour on X. Picture: X/Cathy Juvinao

And yet another policymaker said Ms Juvinao thought she was above the law.

“What is eloquent about the image of Representative Juvinao vaping in Congress is her attitude and reaction to feeling observed,” Cielo Rusinque said on X.

“The obvious will to deceive, the full awareness of doing something prohibited by Colombian law but at the same time the tranquillity with which she was going through the motions in that same ‘temple of democracy’ that recently decided to enact it.”

In May, President Gustavo Petro signed Bill 2354, which aims to strengthen regulations on the advertising, sale, use, and promotion of vapes and electronic cigarettes.

This bipartisan law updates Bill 1335, which was passed in 2009.

The original law aimed to protect public health, especially for children and nonsmokers, by banning indoor use of these products.

In Australian, it is generally illegal to vape in places where tobacco smoking is banned.

Originally published as Politician caught vaping during Parliament health reform session