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Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has sacked Economy Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza after lawmakers voted to remove him from office.
Espinoza’s removal on Friday came after legislators censured him for refusing to appear before Congress to defend his handling of Bolivia’s severe economic crisis.
Bolivia is facing its worst economic turbulence in four decades, putting pressure on Paz, who was elected last year, to revive the struggling economy.
A presidential decree published in the Official Gazette confirmed Espinoza’s removal and appointed Environment Minister Oscar Mario Justiniano Pinto as interim Economy Minister.
Pinto will lead the ministry until the government appoints a permanent replacement.
The government has not given a timeline for the appointment.
Espinoza has rejected the censure and said he would challenge the decision legally.
The government has also described the congressional vote as unconstitutional and asked the country’s top constitutional tribunal to review it.
Paz’s administration had initially allowed Espinoza to remain in office while the tribunal considered the dispute.
The minister’s removal comes at a critical time for the government, which is seeking congressional support for economic reforms and a financing programme negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July.
The IMF programme still requires approval from Bolivia’s Congress and the IMF Executive Board.
Espinoza’s exit could make it harder for Paz to build support for his economic reforms as his administration faces mounting pressure to address the country’s economic crisis.
