Manfred Reyes Villa fears that the census will be politicized in 2024 as it is an election year and proposes that it be “maximum” until 2023

The mayor of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, joins the list of authorities that also do not approve the postponement of the Census National Population and Housing for 2024. The mayor was forceful in affirming that The national survey must be carried out this year on the scheduled date or “maximum” in 2023.

He regretted the decision taken by the National Council of Autonomies (CNA) on Tuesday afternoon because on repeated occasions the Government and the National Institute of Statistics (INE) had guaranteed the completion of the process for November 14 this year.

“We have been told that it was all serious, all responsible, but we see that this is not the case, it is unfortunate. I believe that yes or yes, we should carry out a census, maximum by the end of the year, six months or next year, but by no means in 2024”, said the authority in dialogue with the media.

the municipal authority he fears that the holding of the Census in 2024 could be used politically as it is an election year. “It is preferable to carry out the census in peace, in tranquility, in 2023, and that it be a serious census and so that we really know how many voting people the country has,” he added.

With Reyes Villa’s rejection of the postponement of the census process, the three highest authorities of the capital municipalities of the trunk axis of Bolivia would be on the same pagesince the mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Johnny Fernandez, rejected the rescheduling and sent a letter to President Luis Arce explaining that the municipality of Santa Cruz would lose $50 million with this decision. While the mayor of the city of La Paz, Ivan Ariasproposed that it be carried out until May 2023.