The President of Bolivia dismissed the economy minister following a vote of no confidence by Congress

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz dismissed Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinosa after the country’s Congress passed a censure resolution against him. The corresponding decree was published Friday in the Bolivian government’s official gazette, according to Al Jazeera English.

Oscar Mario Justianino Pinto has been appointed interim Minister of Economy. He will serve in that capacity until a permanent candidate is appointed. The decree does not specify when a new head of the ministry might be appointed.

On Tuesday, the Bolivian Congress voted to censure Espinosa after he failed to appear before lawmakers to answer questions about the economy. Under the country’s constitution, such a censure leads to the official’s subsequent dismissal. Initially, the Pasa administration stated that it would challenge this decision while the tribunal reviewed the dispute; however, the decree published on Friday indicates a change in the president’s position.

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The minister’s dismissal came amid prolonged economic and political instability in Bolivia. Rodrigo Paz, who was a senator at the time, won the presidential election last October, promising to restore stability to the country. His inauguration the following month brought to an end nearly two decades of rule by the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party.

Bolivia has faced a decline in natural gas production and a reduction in foreign exchange reserves. As of 2024, more than 37% of the country’s population lived below the national poverty line. The government’s decision in December to eliminate long-standing fuel subsidies sparked protests. A land reform law signed in April also caused discontent: rural and indigenous communities feared it would weaken protections for small landowners.

In May and June, Bolivia was swept by road blockades, marches, and other demonstrations, some of whose participants demanded the president’s resignation. In June, Paz declared a state of emergency, and Congress approved the use of the military to clear the roads. The president is now seeking parliamentary support for economic reforms and a financing program from the International Monetary Fund. Opposition lawmaker Roland Pacheco called Espinosa’s dismissal a sign that Paz is upholding the Constitution.