Tarija authorities disagree with the questions of the referendum proposed by Luis Arce

Two Tarija authorities expressed this Thursday their disagreement with the referendum questions sent by President Luis Arce to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Both agreed that it is unnecessary at this point in time, when priority is given to the judicial and general elections on August 17, 2025.

“It is not appropriate to transfer the questions on whether the subsidy for diesel and gasoline will be maintained because they are State policies. “It is the responsibility of the Executive to make a decision and not ask the Bolivian people,” said Mayor Johnny Torres.

Regarding the presidential re-election, Torres said that a consultation had already been held in 2016 and the Bolivian people had already decided on the matter. The municipal authority stated that in the Political Constitution of the State (CPE) it is clear that there are two periods, one elected and one re-elected for a single time.

“So it’s over, this is how it should be not only for the president, but also for the governors and mayors. No one is irreplaceable in this life and only in the criteria of 21st century socialism can we see Nicolás Maduro or the Cubans who have been in power for years,” said Torres.

For its part, Governor Oscar Montes questioned that the two questions about maintaining the state subsidy for fuels are unnecessary, like diesel and gasoline, because the majority of the people will decide.

In his opinion, in both cases the Executive can decide and not take the people into consideration, when there are other important issues in the country.

The authorities also disagree with the presidential re-election consultation, considering that including it in the referendum is a useless exercise and democracy should not lend itself to that.