Arce is in custody as a part of a probe into alleged monetary misconduct dedicated whereas he was financial system minister, authorities says.
Printed On 11 Dec 2025
Bolivian regulation enforcement officers have arrested former President Luis Arce as a part of a corruption investigation, in a polarising transfer only a month after the inauguration of conservative President Rodrigo Paz ended 20 years of socialist rule.
A senior official in Paz’s government, Marco Antonio Oviedo, stated on Wednesday that Arce had been arrested on costs of breach of obligation and monetary misconduct associated to the alleged embezzlement of public funds throughout his stint as financial system minister within the authorities of charismatic former chief Evo Morales (2006-2019).
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A particular police power devoted to combating corruption confirmed to The Related Press information company that Arce was in custody on the unit’s headquarters in Bolivia’s capital of La Paz.
“It’s the resolution of this authorities to battle corruption, and we’ll arrest all these chargeable for this huge embezzlement,” Oviedo stated.
Whereas officers described Arce’s arrest as proof of the brand new authorities’s dedication to combating corruption on the highest ranges in fulfilment of its flagship marketing campaign promise, Arce’s allies say his arrest is unjustified and smacks of political persecution.
Accusations
Authorities accused Arce and different officers of diverting an estimated $700m from a state-run fund devoted to supporting the Indigenous folks and peasant farmers who fashioned the spine of Morales’ Motion Towards Socialism occasion.
As Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, Morales remodeled the nation’s energy construction and gave Indigenous folks extra sway than ever.
Serving on the board of administrators of the Indigenous Peasant Improvement Fund from 2006 to 2017, Arce was in control of allocating funds to social improvement initiatives in rural areas.
Throughout that point, officers allege Arce siphoned off a few of that cash for private bills.
“Arce was recognized as the primary particular person chargeable for this huge financial harm,” stated Oviedo.
Bolivia’s lawyer normal, Roger Mariaca, informed native media that Arce had invoked his proper to stay silent throughout police questioning, including that he would stay in police custody in a single day earlier than being introduced earlier than a choose to find out whether or not he’ll stay in jail pending trial.
The costs in opposition to Arce carry a most sentence of six years in jail.
