A bruising week for Bolivia’s President Paz as scandal and setbacks test his presidency
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — In a sign of how things have been going for Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz lately, being forced to fire his economy minister on Friday was not the worst news of his week. Over seven days, Paz has been besieged…
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz is facing a challenging week as multiple issues threaten his presidency. On Friday, he was forced to dismiss Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza, who had been central to the president's pro-market reform agenda. The minister's resignation came after Congress voted to force his removal following a scandal involving the purchase of a luxury car and his absence from a congressional hearing.
The dismissal of Espinoza was a blow to Paz's government, which had already struggled with a scandal surrounding the fuel price hike that threatened to reignite public unrest. Additionally, Paz's influential adviser was arrested over the shooting of a woman who claims to possess evidence of corruption within his administration. This week's setbacks have further weakened Paz's already tenuous political position, as his partnership with Vice President Edman Lara has deteriorated into open hostility.
Analysts suggest that the recent challenges may be Paz's most significant test yet, as he fights to maintain his presidency amidst a barrage of allegations, legal proceedings, and political dissent.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
