Rodrigo Paz dismisses Economy Minister after parliamentary censure in Bolivia

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has dismissed Economy and Public Finance Minister José Gabriel Espinoza following a parliamentary censure. The dismissal, formalized by decree, came after Espinoza failed to appear for a scheduled interpellation session concerning the government's economic policies.

The censure vote, which occurred on Tuesday, saw 91 out of 129 present parliamentarians vote against Espinoza. He had requested a postponement of the session, citing prior official travel commitments to Santa Cruz and Brazil. However, his request was rejected, leading to the parliamentary action.

Espinoza's dismissal is mandated by Bolivia's 2009 Constitution, which requires the president to remove a minister within 24 hours of a formal censure. The government had initially argued the censure was unconstitutional, claiming it required a two-thirds majority of the entire Assembly, not just attending members. Espinoza also announced plans to seek a constitutional court review of the censure's legality.

Despite these challenges and ongoing legal proceedings, President Paz proceeded with the dismissal. The decree notes that while a constitutional review is pending, there is no explicit order suspending the censure's effects. The dismissal aims to ensure the continuity of the Economy Ministry's operations, though critics point to past instances where dismissed ministers were later reinstated, a practice questioned for undermining parliamentary authority.