In the third block of the presidential debate organized by the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE), with the support of the Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs of Bolivia and the National Association of Journalist, the candidates for the presidency of Bolivia presented this Friday this Friday its proposals to face the environmental emergency That the country lives and achieve sustainable development, with special emphasis on lithium management and environmental protection.
Manfred Reyes Villa (APB Sumate) warned about the environmental crisis, with more than 12 million hectares burned in 2024, and proposed to modify the current laws that allow forest fires and harden penalties against the overwhelms of private property and the State. In addition, he proposed to diversify the energy matrix towards renewable sources and promote private investment.
Samuel Doria Medina (Unit Alliance) defended his business experience as a guarantee to manage The country efficiently, generate responsible employment and investment, and compatible economic development with environmental protection.
While Rodrigo Paz (Christian Democratic Party) announced the Creation of a special unit with hidcropions to combat fires and demanded that industrial projects allocate resources for environmental remediation, betting on technical and professional solutions.
Pavel Aracena (DNA) emphasized that the sustainable development is possible and rejected the privatization of natural resources, defending the industrialization responsible for lithium and environmental friendly mining.
Johnny Fernández (the force of the people) highlighted the need to “modify incendiary laws”, Create incentives for clean technologies and strengthen community control to protect green areas.
Jorge Tuto Quiroga (Free Alliance) opted for an “energy mix” with Clean and gas energies, In addition to promoting carbon capture and attracting green investments.
Round of questions and debate between candidates
The debate continued with questions directed among the candidates themselves, which allowed deepening Key topics for sustainable development and the environment in Bolivia.
One of the central points was lithium management. Tuto said that Bolivia must stop exporting raw material to become a world leader in decarbonization, manufacturing batteries in national free zones, generating employment and added value.
On his Eduardo del Castillo plan (MAS), he highlighted the need for a new law of lithium and another of rare earths, with royalties of at least 11% for the producing departments. He proposed to nationalize undocumented vehicles providing them with hybrid kits to turn them into electrical or hybrid means of transport, dynamizing the rural and urban economy.
He also raised solid waste in the main metropolitan areas and Grant green credits with rates Preferential to import electric vehicles, avoiding affecting citizens’ pocket eliminating unnecessary subsidies.
While, Rodrigo Paz highlighted the importance of the Condor’s law, processed by him as a senator, which penalizes species and fires, and proposed carbon bonds that could mobilize about 15,000 million dollars in 25 years for Bolivia. Advocated economic incentives to conserve forestscontrol of burning with technology and an anti -capital air fleet. He reiterated his respect for private property and his zero tolerance to overwhelming.
During the round of questions, candidate Pavel Aracena questioned Rodrigo about the deadlines so that Bolivia receive dollars from carbon bonds. Rodrigo replied that there are approved funds for projects in Charagua, but regretted that they have not executed and reaffirmed their plan to bring technology and reinvest in the country.
Andronón Rodríguez addressed Samuel Doria Medina, questioning the privatization of water and other natural resources during previous governments and the alleged contradiction between protect the environment and prioritize production In times of crisis. Samuel defended that he will prioritize production respecting the environmental law and denied having privatized natural resources of the country.
Manfred Reyes Villa questioned Tuto Quiroga about his according to senators to liberalize dieselpreventing inflation and affecting public transport, and highlighted the need to liberalize import to avoid corrupt monopolies.
Rodrigo Paz Pereira defended the use of biotechnology in agriculture as a necessary advance for sustainable production, criticizing contrary positions that harm producers.
Likewise, Samuel Doria Medina questioned Andrónico Rodríguez about social inclusion in Bolivia, noting that the benefits would only have reached moreist leaders and not the indigenous population. Rodríguez replied that the inclusion has been full in times of the plurinational state, with greater participation of indigenous people, peasants, women and young people in the institutions.
The debate showed a panorama of proposals focused on the urgent need for face the environmental crisis, Protect natural resources and transform the country’s productive and energy matrix, while candidates exchanged criticism and defended their visions for the future of Bolivia.
However, the crosses that were among some candidates such as those of Samuel Doria and Eduardo del Castillo also caught the attention. They nickname “Samuelitio” and “Sonia”respectively and repeatedly.
