Bolivia's President Promulgates Budget, Authorizing $3.5 Billion in Loans

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has promulgated the reformulated General State Budget (PGE) for 2026, a move that authorizes the government to contract international loans amounting to $3.5 billion. The budget, which totals 7,400 billion Bolivian pesos, brings the consolidated budget for the year to 391,815 billion Bolivian pesos. The promulgation was announced by President Paz via a video message, though the new law has not yet been published in the Official Gazette.

President Paz highlighted that this budget is being debated for the first time in 20 years and was approved by significant majorities in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. He emphasized that this process has restored Parliament as a center for consensus and regional representation, focusing on solutions rather than political interests through joint voting.

The reformulated PGE faced a legislative journey, being approved in the Chamber of Deputies in early July, just before the parliamentary recess. The Senate then took up the project and approved the text, although it encountered strong opposition from the Libre party, which sought further reforms. The article notes that this is a developing story.

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This budget is being debated for the first time in 20 years and was approved by the majorities, both in Deputies and in Senators, recovering Parliament as a center for consensus and regional representation; a space focused not on political interests, but on solutions through joint voting.