Former Bolivian President Luis Arce was arrested as part of a corruption investigation linked to his time as economy minister, officials said on Wednesday.

Arce's detention comes only a month after he left office and less than two months after centrist candidate Rodrigo Paz won the October runoff election.

The election campaign this year was dominated by economic concerns as Bolivians expressed a desire for change, with many having grown disillusioned with the country's Movement Toward Socialism party, widely known as MAS.

Bolivians chose to elect Paz this year, and with that, brought about an end to two decades of socialist rule in the Latin American country.

What do we know about the corruption charges against Arce?

Here are the key points to know about the accusations against former President Arce:

• Arce has been accused of embezzling public funds 
• The charges relate to his term as economy minister from 2006 to 2019
• Arce allegedly authorized transfers of public money to political leaders
• One alleged beneficiary was former lawmaker Lidia Patty, who received almost $100,000 in public funds for a tomato cultivation project
• Patty was arrested last week as part of the same case against Arce
• AFP reported the charges relate to dereliction of duty and 'economic misconduct'

 

In a video posted to TikTok, Vice President Edmand Lara confirmed the news about Arce's detention.

Lara went on to say Arce would be the first of many targets as the new government seeks accountability. 

"Those who have stolen from this country will return every last cent," Lara said, before ending his video by wishing "death to the corrupt." 

Former Bolivian president faces 6 years in jail

Arce served as economy minister under former socialist President Evo Morales.

Morales was Bolivia's first indigenous president. Bolivia's power structures were transformed under Morales, with more power going to the indigenous communities who supported his movement.

Authorities have accused Arce of diverting $700 million (€599 million) from a fund earmarked for indigenous people and peasant farmers for personal expenses during that time.

Arce became president in 2020 and ended his five-year term last month. He did not seek reelection this year because his government

The former president had invoked his right to remain silent, according to Attorney General Roger Mariaca. He was set to be brought before a judge on Thursday.

The maximum sentence for the charges against Arce is four to six years.

Allies reject allegations

Maria Nela Prada, Arce's minister of the presidency and closest ally, agreed the charges seemed to stem from his period as economy minister.

Speaking outside the headquarters of a special police force dedicated to fighting corruption, she insisted on Arce's innocence. "Of course he's innocent, I can confirm that," she said.

Prada said Arce had not been informed of the charges and had been grabbed off the street and bundled into a minivan with blacked-out windows in La Paz.

Arce's term was marked by high inflation as well as shortages of fuel. He left his successors, who swept to power on a wave of popular anger, empty state coffers.

Corruption has long been acknowledged in Bolivia, but the period of growth and shrinking inequality under Morales meant the government was able to avoid the outrage seen under Arce.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar