Bolivia - June 2024

On 6 June, the Legislative Assembly approved a bill that suspends judges and magistrates of high courts whose mandates had been prolonged given the delay in the holding of judicial elections. It establishes that such suspensions should be considered to have taken effect on 1 January, and that any subsequent decisions that these judges have issued should be considered as null and void. The bill was supported by center-right opposition members, as well as by the “Evista” wing of ruling party Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), who denounced attempts by “Arcista” lawmakers to suspend the session. Supporters of Evo Morales have long criticized the extension of mandates of judges as illegal. According to the Constitutional Court,  the adopted bill should have no legal effects, as the  Legislative Assembly’s related session was convened by the Senate’s president, and not by Vice-President David Choquehuanca, who would ordinarily preside its sessions (the latter was away on official travel). Confrontation between these two branches of government could continue to delay the holding of judicial elections and certainty over the tenure of acting judges in the coming months.

Sources: Educación Radiofonica de Bolivia, El Pais, Agencia Boliviana de Informacion