Santa Cruz authorities propose legislative reforms in Bolivia

The Santa Cruz Legislative Assembly has promulgated Law 429, creating the Departmental Ombudsman for Santa Cruz. This new entity, which functions as a decentralized body of the Executive, is tasked with defending individual and collective rights against violations by public entities at any level of government or private entities providing public services.

Separately, acting Governor Paola Aguirre has submitted a bill to the National Congress to amend Law 260, the Organic Law of the Public Ministry. The proposal seeks to grant departmental legislative assemblies the authority to elect departmental prosecutors. Aguirre argues that this change would replace the current system, where the Attorney General holds designation power, with a merit-based, transparent process to strengthen the legitimacy of the justice administration.