Government Bolivia's President Paz dissolves the Ministry of Justice
Bolivia's new President Rodrigo Paz has dissolved his country's Ministry of Justice. In a press release on Thursday (local time), the Christian Democrat referred to his election promise to abolish the ministry.
21.11.2025, 02:40
SDA
Paz justified the move by saying that the previous left-wing governments, which had been in power for 20 years, had allegedly used the Ministry of Justice to persecute the opposition.
The announcement came just a few hours after Paz had fired his justice minister Freddy Vidovic, who had only been sworn in two weeks ago. The day before, it had come to light that Vidovic had been sentenced to three years in prison in 2015 for bribery and aiding and abetting the escape of a businessman.
Vidovic had concealed the prison sentence when he was sworn in. It was not initially reported whether he had served it. However, he is not allowed to hold public office if he has a criminal conviction.
Vidovic was supposed to be replaced by Jorge Franz García as Minister of Justice by decree on Thursday, but Paz then dissolved the ministry altogether. "Today I am keeping my word," he said in his announcement. "An end to the Ministry of Persecution, an end to the Ministry of Injustice", declared the 58-year-old, who took office at the beginning of November.
