"Partygate", former premier Johnson prepares for trial

LONDON - Earlier this week, England's House of Commons said former Prime Minister Boris Johnson will testify before Parliament's Privileges Committee on March 22 about parties taking place in his office during lockdowns for Covid-19, as part of an ongoing investigation. Boris Johnson is to release new evidence clearing him of the case of parties during the Covid-19 pandemic, a British newspaper reported, citing sources. Johnson will testify before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee on March 22. The scandal erupted after it emerged that several "informal" meetings had been held in Johnson's offices during 2020 and 2021, in violation of Covid social distancing rules -19. The situation was exacerbated by reports that two more parties were held on April 16 last year, on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral, when the UK was still maintaining Covid-19 restrictions and was in national mourning.Johnson he later apologized and said he had paid the fine issued by the Metropolitan Police. Johnson became prime minister in July 2019 and resigned in September 2022 due to multiple scandals.