Bolivian Economy Minister asset controversy

Bolivian Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza is facing legal and political scrutiny regarding the purchase of an Audi Q4 e-tron and discrepancies in his asset declarations.

Initially, Vice President Edmand Lara filed a criminal complaint alleging irregularities between a notarized deed listing the vehicle at Bs 50,000 and Espinoza’s public claim of a Bs 350,000 purchase price. The complaint cited potential crimes such as illicit enrichment and the use of falsified instruments, noting that the vehicle was omitted from Espinoza’s June 2026 sworn asset declaration. Espinoza attributed the price discrepancy to a legal representative’s error.

As the controversy progressed, Espinoza provided varying explanations, shifting blame from a facilitator to a notary and offering inconsistent accounts regarding the vehicle’s financing. In response to the scrutiny, the Ministry of Economy announced an investigation into RED DTV concerning a Bs 3 million payment to the State. Meanwhile, Senate President Diego Ávila stated that all public officials are legally obligated to provide accurate asset declarations to the Comptroller General.