Bolivia Spokesman Alleges Bribes in Mariaca Election
POLITICS · BOLIVIA
Key Facts
- —The country Bolivia is an Andean nation of about 11 million people. Its national congress, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, elects the attorney general, who heads the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- —What happened On 2 October 2026 presidential spokesman José Luis Gálvez said “narco-terrorism” had financed decisions such as appointments with bribes, and that Attorney General Roger Mariaca’s election involved bribes to lawmakers (El Deber, Opinión).
- —Who is involved Mariaca, in police custody since 30 September; his lawyer Jerjes Justiniano, who called the claim irresponsible; and the Assembly, which met on the case the same morning.
- —What it means for you The government is pressing lawmakers to suspend Mariaca. While leadership of the prosecution service is disputed, criminal complaints in Bolivia may move slowly.
- —Still open Gálvez named no lawmaker and showed no evidence in public. No court has charged Mariaca, and the Assembly session went into recess before any decision.
Bolivia’s government alleged on Friday that the Mariaca election to attorney general was arranged through bribes to some lawmakers. Presidential spokesman José Luis Gálvez cited it at a morning press conference as an example of narco-terrorism.
He spoke hours before the Assembly met to discuss Mariaca, who has been in police custody since 30 September. Gálvez offered no evidence in public, and Mariaca’s lawyer called the remarks irresponsible.
What the spokesman said
Gálvez speaks for President Rodrigo Paz, in office since November 2025. El Deber, a Santa Cruz daily, published his remarks at 8:39 a.m. Bolivia time on Friday.
“This narco-terrorism has got so far into some institutions,” he said, that it has “even financed, with bribes, important political decisions, such as the selection of authorities.” In Spanish he spoke of decisions financed “con sobornos”, meaning with bribes.
He then turned to the Mariaca election itself. Rumours and available information, he said, show the vote “se gestó con sobornos a algunos asambleístas”. That means it was arranged through bribes to some lawmakers.
El Deber, Red Uno and Opinión all carried that sentence. El Deber headlined the remarks as a claim that narco-terrorism financed the Mariaca election.
A warning about vote-buying
Gálvez said rumours had resurfaced since Thursday of plans “to buy votes with drug-trafficking money”. The aim, he said, was to keep intact a scheme that “was a friend of Marset”, the Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset.
He urged lawmakers to suspend Mariaca and other questioned officials temporarily while legal proceedings run. “Today’s session is historic,” he said, asking for a decision rather than a debate on procedures.
The government accuses Mariaca of leading a criminal network inside the prosecution service that protected drug traffickers. Police detained him at Viru Viru airport, as reported in Bolivia Attorney General Mariaca Detained at Airport.
Mariaca’s defence responds
Jerjes Justiniano, Mariaca’s lawyer, called the statements “somewhat irresponsible”, the broadcaster Unitel reported. He asked why the government did not take its complaint to the formal authorities.
Justiniano said procedures exist to protect the rule of law. He described the spokesman’s words as a “veiled threat” against lawmakers who disagree with the government.
Mariaca rejects a US accusation of 28 September that he took bribes to protect drug traffickers. He and two senior prosecutors have filed a freedom suit against President Paz, covered in Bolivia’s Detained Attorney General Seeks Release.
The Assembly meets, then pauses
The Assembly opened its session at 10:25 a.m., chaired by Senate president Diego Ávila, El Deber reported. Vice-President Edmand Lara, who normally presides, was travelling in Spain.
Three ministers attended: Fernando Aramayo of the Presidency, Ernesto Justiniano of Defence and Marco Antonio Oviedo of Government, the interior ministry. Shortly before 11 a.m., lawmakers demanded written reports and the session went into recess, Unitel reported.
Deputy Sandra Rivero said verbal reports alone would make it “a coffee chat”. The agenda covers official reports on the arrest and possible legislative action, the news site eju.tv reported.
What Is Not Yet Known
Gálvez did not name any lawmaker said to have taken bribes, or give amounts. He cited “rumours” and unspecified information, and no prosecutor has announced a bribery inquiry.
A La Paz constitutional chamber on Friday morning denied the freedom suit of detained senior prosecutor Martín Irusta, El Deber reported. No ruling on Mariaca’s own petition had been reported by midday.
No court has charged Mariaca, and the Assembly session remained in recess at midday. It is unclear whether lawmakers will suspend him or name an interim chief.
Sources: El Deber, Gálvez remarks and Assembly session, 2 October 2026; Red Uno, 2 October 2026; Opinión, 2 October 2026; Unitel via El País (Tarija), 2 October 2026; Unitel, Assembly recess, 2 October 2026; eju.tv, 2 October 2026; El Deber, Irusta ruling, 2 October 2026; earlier Rio Times reporting.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief