Bolivian right-wing President Rodrigo Paz announced on Monday the reduction of his cabinet from fourteen to twelve ministries—eliminating the portfolios of Development Planning and Sustainable Tourism, Culture, Folklore and Gastronomy—, while also swearing in new foreign and presidency ministers.
The announcement came as Paz administered the oath of office to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Héctor Huanca, and the new Minister of the Presidency, Fernando Aramayo. He further revealed that the previous holder of the Presidency portfolio, José Lupo, has been proposed as Bolivia’s new ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS).
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Paz explained that part of the now-defunct Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Culture, Folklore and Gastronomy will remain within the executive branch, but a new “national agency” will be created to give “agility” to the public-private and national-international interface, with the goal of generating an economic impact from those sectors. Regarding the eliminated Development Planning Ministry, he stated that some of its “necessary” attributions will be transferred to other institutions.
José Fernando Romero, current head of the eliminated Planning portfolio, will remain in the government and will later be entrusted with a new mission.
The president, who will mark nine months in office on August 8, asserted that these adjustments signal the conclusion of a “transition period” and the beginning of “deep transformations.”
Doy la bienvenida a Fernando Aramayo como nuevo ministro de la Presidencia y a Héctor Huanca como nuevo canciller del Estado.
Ambos asumen una nueva misión al servicio de Bolivia en una etapa que exige liderazgo, coordinación y una profunda vocación de servicio. Confío en que su…
— Rodrigo Paz Pereira (@Rodrigo_PazP) August 4, 2026
These state-structure adjustments come nearly a week after it was announced that an agreement had been reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a technical program worth $1.9 billion to support reforms launched by the Bolivian government.
The adjustments also follow Sunday’s announcement by businessman and former presidential candidate Samuel Doria Medina, who withdrew his support for the government, citing concerns over “corruption” and the lack of “comprehensive” change in certain areas of the state.
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