Who Is Bolivia's President?

Bolivia, officially known as the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country in central South America. It is a unitary state with a population of 12 million and a multiethnic society. Bolivia has had a tumultuous political history since gaining independence in 1825, with a mix of civilian and military governments. The country's current president is Luis Arce, who was inaugurated on 8 November 2020. Arce is a member of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party and previously served as the minister of finance under Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president.

Who is the current president of Bolivia?

The current president of Bolivia is Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, often referred to as Lucho. He is a Bolivian banker, economist, and politician serving as the 67th president of Bolivia since 8 November 2020. A member of the Movement for Socialism, he previously served as minister of finance and later as minister of economy and public finance from 2006 to 2017, and again in 2019.

Arce was born in La Paz, Bolivia, on 28 September 1963. He studied accounting at the Institute of Banking Education, graduating in 1984. He then went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in economics from the Higher University of San Andrés. In 1991, he received his master's degree in economics from the University of Warwick in the UK.

Arce began his career in the Central Bank of Bolivia in 1987, working in various positions such as a trader and market analyst, deputy manager of reserves, and head of the Department of Information and Publications. He also pursued a parallel career as a professor of economics, finance, and banking at various universities.

In 2005, Arce joined the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) and became a close associate of Evo Morales, who was running for president at the time. When Morales won the election, he appointed Arce as his minister of finance. Arce played a crucial role in Bolivia's economic transformation, overseeing the nationalization of the hydrocarbons industry, increasing taxes on the wealthy, and reducing poverty.

In 2017, Arce had to step down from his position due to a diagnosis of kidney cancer. After recovering from his illness, he returned to the government as the minister of economy and public finance in 2019. However, he resigned within the year amid social unrest and allegations of electoral fraud, which ultimately led to Morales' removal as president.

Arce sought asylum in Mexico and was later nominated by Morales as the MAS's presidential candidate for the 2020 elections. He won the election with over 55% of the popular vote, bringing Bolivia back to socialist rule.

As president, Arce has faced challenges such as managing the economic crisis, addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, and dealing with political tensions, including a coup attempt in June 2024. He has also been working to rectify what he considers erroneous economic decisions made by the previous interim government.

Who was the first president of Bolivia?

The first president of Bolivia was Simón Bolívar, who took office in 1825. However, there is some debate among scholars as to whether Bolívar should be considered the first president of Bolivia. This is because Bolívar was never referred to as "president" in legal documents and was never sworn in, instead renouncing the title in favour of Antonio José de Sucre on 29 December 1825. Sucre, on the other hand, was president when the country's first constitution was promulgated on 19 November 1826.

According to historian Isaac Sandoval, the first president of Bolivia was Sucre, not Bolívar. However, historian and author Carlos Mesa asserts that Bolívar was indeed the first president and that the lack of mention of him with the title is because the term "president" was not in common use in legal documents at the time.

What is the term length for a president of Bolivia?

Bolivia's current constitution, approved by referendum in 2009, dictates that the president of Bolivia is elected by popular vote to a five-year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a president may serve.

The 2009 Political Constitution extended the presidential term from four years to five years while keeping the two-term limit. However, in 2016, a proposal to abolish term limits failed to pass via constitutional referendum. Then, in 2017, the Supreme Tribunal of Justice ruled that all elected officials could run for office indefinitely, rather than for the two consecutive terms permitted under the 2009 Constitution.

The five-year term provides continuity in leadership while also allowing for a democratic transition of power through elections. This system aims to ensure that the president has sufficient time to implement their policies and fulfil their electoral promises while also preventing indefinite stays in office.

How many presidents has Bolivia had?

Since Bolivia's independence in 1825, the country has had 67 presidents. The current president, Luis Arce, is the 67th and incumbent president of Bolivia. He assumed office on 8 November 2020.

The first president of Bolivia was Simón Bolívar, who was elected by the General Assembly of Deputies of the Province of Upper Peru. However, there is a dispute as to whether Bolívar or Antonio José de Sucre was the first president. This is because Bolívar renounced the title in favour of Sucre and was never referred to as president in legal documents. Sucre, on the other hand, was president when the country's first constitution was promulgated.

Bolivia has had a tumultuous political history, with frequent civil wars, coups, and violence. The country has been ruled by key figures in the fight for independence, leaders of the War of the Pacific, representatives of the aristocracy, military dictators, and democratically elected leaders.

The presidency of Pedro Blanco Soto, who was assassinated six days after taking office in 1828, was the shortest in Bolivian history. Evo Morales, who served the longest, resigned in 2019 after 13 years in office. He is the only president to have served more than two consecutive terms.

How is the president of Bolivia elected?

Bolivia's president is directly elected by the Bolivian people to a five-year term. The president is elected using a modified two-round system: a candidate wins outright if they receive more than 50% of the vote, or over 40% of the vote and are at least 10% ahead of their closest rival. If neither condition is met, a run-off election is held between the two top candidates.

The 2020 Bolivian general election saw Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party elected president in a landslide, winning 55% of the vote and securing majorities in both chambers of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.

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