Bolivia's President Arce Denies Influence‑Trafficking Links in Soboce‑Fancesa Case

Bolivian President Luis Arce issued a written statement rejecting any involvement in a alleged influence‑trafficking scheme tied to the long‑running competition‑law dispute between cement firms Soboce and Fancesa. He said his 2024 meeting with former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in La Paz was limited to internal political matters, the MAS crisis and preparations for the 2025 elections, and that he had no knowledge of any agenda Zapatero pursued in Sucre.

Spanish police reports allege Zapatero received €200,000 to lobby Bolivian authorities on behalf of the Peruvian Gloria group, owner of Soboce, to benefit the company in its dispute with state‑owned Fancesa. The case stemmed from a 2017 lawsuit alleging Soboce engaged in unfair competition, resulting in a court order for Soboce to pay over Bs 744 million. Soboce later secured a constitutional amparo that temporarily suspended the payment pending final rulings.

Arce emphasized respect for due process, offered cooperation with investigators, and reiterated that his government had not interfered with the judicial decisions. The controversy comes as Bolivia prepares for national elections in 2025, raising political sensitivity around the case.