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A Bolivian tribunal connected Friday (December 12, 2025) ordered the country's former President, Luis Arce, to stay detained for 5 months portion helium awaits proceedings connected corruption charges, the latest improvement successful a lawsuit that threatens to exacerbate Bolivia's governmental tensions.
Mr. Arce, 62, a person from Bolivia’s Movement Toward Socialism party, was elected successful 2020 and near bureau a period agone pursuing the predetermination of Bolivia's archetypal right-wing person successful astir 2 decades. He powerfully denies the charges of breach of work and fiscal misconduct. He faces up to six years successful situation if convicted.
Two days aft Mr. Arce's abrupt apprehension connected the streets of Bolivia's superior of La Paz, a justice ordered his detention successful a virtual proceeding connected Friday (December 12). Mr. Arce was transferred to 1 of Bolivia's largest prisons successful La Paz astatine night. No proceedings day was announced.
The accusations interest the alleged diversion of millions of dollars from a State money into backstage accounts and day backmost to erstwhile Mr. Arce served arsenic Economy Minister under erstwhile President Evo Morales from 2006 until 2017.
Although the ungraded archetypal broke successful 2017, investigations into the alleged graft stalled during Mr. Morales' presidency, arsenic Bolivia’s courts proved submissive to the prevailing governmental power. The lawsuit was reopened erstwhile conservative President Rodrigo Paz took bureau past month, ending almost 2 decades of dominance by the Movement Toward Socialism, oregon MAS, party.
Paz campaigned connected a committedness to cleanable up the authorities and question justness for corruption arsenic helium rode to powerfulness connected a question of outrage implicit Bolivia's worst economical situation successful 4 decades. Mr. Arce criticised the charges arsenic governmental persecution.
“I’m a scapegoat,” helium told the judge, insisting that helium had nary idiosyncratic engagement successful the authorities money nether scrutiny, which supported the Indigenous radical and peasant farmers who formed the backbone of MAS support. “The accusations are politically motivated.”
Officials progressive successful the erstwhile iteration of the probe accidental Mr. Arce is accused of siphoning disconnected wealth from agrarian improvement projects to unafraid loyalty from MAS-allied unions and Indigenous leaders during predetermination campaigns.
Mr. Morales was elected to 3 consecutive terms, but was ousted successful 2019 erstwhile his reelection to an unprecedented 4th word sparked accusations of fraud and wide protests. Mr. Arce's lawyers asked the justice to assistance his merchandise pending trial, citing the erstwhile President's conflict with kidney crab respective years ago.
However, Judge Elmer Laura denied the entreaty and adjacent exceeded the prosecution’s petition of 3 months successful a juvenile detention centre by ordering 5 months successful a State prison. “These are crimes that straight impact State assets and resources that were allocated to susceptible sectors," Ms. Laura said.
