Bolivia President Rodrigo Paz Cuts Ministries in Half to Slash Bureaucracy

Rodrigo Paz Bolivia cabinet reduction ministry cuts bureaucracy reform public spending

President Rodrigo Paz announced a restructuring of Bolivia’s executive branch, reducing the number of ministries from 21 to 12. He said the previous administration had “much flojo” – officials drawing salaries without working – and that the cuts would curb wasteful spending and free resources for public works and new hydrocarbon and mining laws. Paz defended the move as a way to make the state more efficient and to redirect funds to projects that benefit the population.

Vice President Edmand Lara criticised the reform, arguing that eliminating ministries merely consolidates power into “super‑ministries” without truly reducing bureaucracy. Lara warned that the removal of the Planning Ministry and the Tourism Ministry could impair investment coordination and sectoral development.

The debate highlights a shift in Bolivia’s governance model, with the president emphasizing austerity and the vice‑president warning of potential concentration of authority.

Entities: Ana María Crispín · Bolivia · Bolivian Ministry of Planning · Bolivian Ministry of Tourism · Edmand Lara · Fernando Aramayo · José Luis Lupo · Marco Quiroga · Mauricio Zamora · President Fujimori · Rodrigo Paz · Ruth Luque

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] Vice President Edmand Lara said the reduction creates “super‑ministeries” that concentrate power and does not reduce bureaucracy. (Statement by Edmand Lara)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Samuel Doria Medina said José Luis Lupo faced resistance from other ministers when trying structural changes. (Statement by Samuel Doria Medina)
[● 2 SOURCES] Fernando Aramayo was appointed minister of the Presidency. (Cabinet appointments)
[● 3 SOURCES] The ministries of Planning and Tourism were eliminated. (Cabinet reform details)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Conade’s Marco Quiroga demanded concrete results from the new cabinet and called for direct coordination between Aramayo and President Paz. (Statement by Marco Quiroga)
[● 3 SOURCES] President Rodrigo Paz reduced the number of ministries from 14 to 12. (Bolivian government announcement)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Héctor Huanca was appointed minister of Foreign Relations. (Cabinet appointments)
[○ 1 SOURCE] José Luis Lupo was named ambassador to the Organization of American States. (Cabinet appointments)