December 6, 2024, 4:00 AM
December 6, 2024, 4:00 AM
President Luis Arce traveled yesterday to Uruguay to participate in the semiannual summit of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), the subregional economic bloc to which Bolivia has just joined. When boarding the presidential plane, A phrase he uttered on Wednesday in El Alto was causing rejection, especially in Santa Cruz.
That day, Arce led an event with which the works for the construction of the expansion of the sanitary sewage system for districts 4, 5 and 13 of El Alto began. Once the formality of that event was over, he greeted the attendees and it was in that context that several citizens complained about the increase in basic products in the family basket.
“Brother Maple! So let the rice and oil go down, because you have made it rise a lot!” The president responded: “Once again, like in 2007 and 2008, the changers are playing dirty games with us”. These words, captured on video and widely disseminated yesterday through the networks, provoked reactions of rejection due to the tone with which the president referred to the inhabitants of Santa Cruz.
Political, business and social leaders in Santa Cruz described the statements as offensive and divisive; In addition, they demanded that he change the current economic model, but also publicly apologize for it.
“Once again, President Arce attacks Santa Cruz and its productive model. Bolivia is tired of the failed MAS model. Your attitude is pathetic!“said Vicente Cuéllar, the rector of the Gabriel René Moreno Autonomous University (Uagrm), who hopes he will retract it.
Shortly after, the governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, detained in the Chonchocoro prison since the end of 2022, affirmed the current economic crisis facing the country has to do with the current economic model.
“The hatred you have for Santa Cruz has no limits. “Santa Cruz supports the country’s food security, while your Government is responsible for the economic disaster we face.” In addition, he asked him to publicly apologize for those criteria.
From the agricultural sector, Mauricio Serrate, secretary of Fegasacruz, recalled that “Santa Cruz produces 70% of the food that Bolivia consumes”
“Inflation is not the producer’s fault. The very poor economy is the responsibility of the president,” he told the DTV channel. Furthermore, he regretted that the President “does not have the pants” to point out these criteria during the sectoral meetings that have taken place in the face of the economic crisis.
Due to a significant reduction in exports, the country has stopped receiving foreign currency in the proportion that it had before 2023. In addition, the deficit supply of diesel has generated several criticisms from various sectors.
In contrast, leaders of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) defended the president. Deputy Hernán Hinojosa said that Arce’s words were misinterpreted. “Arce called the cambitas with affection. There is no discrimination or insults; “His intention was to refer to speculators, not producers.”
Edwin Fernández, leader of the MAS in Santa Cruz, also called for calm: “There is no reason to resent. “The president never criticized the people of Santa Cruz, he only referred to those who make prices more expensive.”
Arce’s reference to the years 2007 and 2008 revives previous tensions, when the government of Evo Morales faced conflicts over control of land use and quotas for agricultural exports.
Currently, rice and vegetable oil have registered significant increases in Bolivian markets. According to recent data, the price of rice rose 12% compared to last year, while oil had an increase of 15%, attributed to production, transportation costs and lower supply in the market.
The Financial Law 2025 project, which includes measures such as the confiscation of products in cases of speculation, has also generated rejection in the productive sector. Although the Minister of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro assured that these provisions do not seek to harm producers, the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO) considers them a threat to the sector.
Montenegro will explain this project today before the Planning Commission of Deputies.
Prices
In several cities in the west of the country there are problems in the supply of rice and vegetable oil, although the Government has promised normality.
Tensions
Between 2007 and 2008, the government of Evo Morales, of which Luis Arce was a part, placed limits on oilseed exports.
Debate
Arce will participate today in the Mercosur summit, while the Legislature will begin the debate on the 2025 Budget.
