President Luis Arce appointed Álvaro Ruiz as new Minister of Environment and Water, who took office this Tuesday in a swearing-in ceremony at the Casa Grande del Pueblo. Ruiz, until now Vice Minister of Autonomies, is a figure close to the president’s political cabinet and one of the main defenders of his government management.
During his time as vice minister, Ruiz stood out for his firm support of the president, ensuring that the Arce administration has faced a process of “electoralization” from 2022, three years before the general elections.
This designation marks the first time that a head of the Ministry of Environment and Water does not come from social organizationss allies to the government, breaking with a tradition that had characterized this position.
The change in the cabinet occurs on the eve of the anniversary of the Plurinational State Already 10 months before the end of President Arce’s term, he has not yet expressed his intention to run again in the next elections.
Ruiz will replace Alan Lisperguerdismissed on January 15 after being denounced for alleged illicit enrichment. The Prosecutor’s Office began an investigation after the Vice Ministry of Transparency filed a formal complaint against Lisperguer and his advisor, Gabriel Delgado, for a disproportionate increase in assets not in line with their income.
“After the complaint for alleged illicit enrichment against the Minister of Environment and Water has been admitted, I have ordered his immediate dismissal so that he can assume his defense before the corresponding authorities,” President Arce announced through his social networks.
The president emphasized his commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption. “Our government, in compliance with the mandate of the people, will not tolerate any indication or act of corruption,” he stated.
For its part, The departmental prosecutor of La Paz, Luis Carlos Torrez, confirmed that the investigations focus on crimes of illicit enrichment and falsehood in the sworn declaration of assets.. “A capital increase that was not proportional to the income declared by these authorities was identified,” he explained.
With this decision, the president seeks to reinforce confidence in his cabinet and give a strong message against corruption in the final stretch of his administration.
