Bolivia's interim president: MAS-linked officials remain, state built for illicit activities

Interim President Jeanine Áñez of Bolivia has admitted that individuals associated with the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party continue to hold positions within the government. This acknowledgment comes amid ongoing political transitions and scrutiny of the previous administration's legacy.

Áñez stated that the state apparatus was initially organized to bolster the MAS party's influence. However, she claimed that this structure ultimately became a vehicle for corruption, drug trafficking, and other illegal economic activities. "The public administration was organized to sustain a party and ended up functioning in favor of corruption, drug trafficking, and illegal economies," Áñez asserted.

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The public administration was organized to sustain a party and ended up functioning in favor of corruption, drug trafficking, and illegal economies.

She further elaborated on the systemic nature of the problem, declaring, "A state has been built in function of illicit activities." This statement suggests a deep-rooted issue within the country's institutions, where public resources and administrative functions have allegedly been co-opted for criminal enterprises. The interim government faces the challenge of dismantling these networks and restoring public trust.

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A state has been built in function of illicit activities.