# Cabinet of Luis Arce

The Arce Cabinet constitutes the 222nd cabinet of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. It was formed on 9 November 2020, one day after Luis Arce was sworn in as the 67th president of Bolivia following the 2020 general election, succeeding the Áñez Cabinet. The cabinet is composed entirely of members of the ruling Movement for Socialism. Described as a "technocratic" cabinet, it has been noted for the low-profile and youth of some of its members as well as its political distance from former president Evo Morales.

## Council of Ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Party | Prof. | Took office | Left office | Term |
| President | Luis Arce | | MAS | Eco. | 8 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,508 |
| Vice President | David Choquehuanca | | MAS | Dip. | 8 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,508 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Rogelio Mayta | | MAS | Law. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of the Presidency | María Nela Prada | | MAS | Dip. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Government | Eduardo del Castillo | | MAS | Law. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Defense | Edmundo Novillo | | MAS | Law. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Development Planning | Gabriela Mendoza | | MAS | Eco. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Economy and Public Finance | Marcelo Montenegro | | MAS | Eco. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Hydrocarbons | Franklin Molina Ortiz | | MAS | Eco. | 9 November 2020 | 19 November 2020 | 1,507 |
| Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energies | Franklin Molina Ortiz | | MAS | Eco. | 19 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Productive Development and the Plural Economy | Néstor Huanca Chura | | MAS | Eco. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Public Works, Services, and Housing | Edgar Montaño | | MAS | Eng. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Mining and Metallurgy | Ramiro Villavicencio | | MAS | Eng. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Justice and Institutional Transparency | Iván Lima | | MAS | Law. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Security | Verónica Navia Tejada | | MAS | Soc. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Health | Édgar Pozo | | MAS | Dr. | 9 November 2020 | 19 November 2020 | 68 |
| Minister of Health and Sports | Édgar Pozo | | MAS | Dr. | 19 November 2020 | 16 January 2021 | 68 |
| Minister of Health and Sports | Jeyson Auza | | MAS | Dr. | 16 January 2021 | Incumbent | 1,439 |
| Minister of Environment and Water | Juan Santos Cruz | | MAS | Uni. | 9 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,507 |
| Minister of Education, Sports, and Cultures | Adrián Quelca | | PCB | Prof. | 9 November 2020 | 19 November 2020 | 368 |
| Minister of Education | Adrián Quelca | | PCB | Prof. | 19 November 2020 | 12 November 2021 | 368 |
| Minister of Education | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | Office vacant 12–19 November 2021 | 7 |
| Minister of Education | Edgar Pary | | MAS | Prof. | 19 November 2021 | Incumbent | 1,132 |
| Minister of Rural Development and Land | Wilson Cáceres | | MAS | Uni. | 9 November 2020 | 1 December 2020 | 22 |
| Minister of Rural Development and Land | Edwin Characayo | | MAS | Agr. | 1 December 2020 | 14 April 2021 | 134 |
| Minister of Rural Development and Land | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | Office vacant 14–20 April 2021 | 6 |
| Minister of Rural Development and Land | Remmy Gonzáles | | MAS | Eng. | 20 April 2021 | Incumbent | 1,345 |
| Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization and Depatriarchalization | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13–20 November 2020 | 7 |
| Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization and Depatriarchalization | Sabina Orellana | | MAS | Uni. | 20 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,496 |
| Minister of Energies | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | Office vacant 9–12 November 2020 | 3 |
| Minister of Energies | Franklin Molina Ortiz | | MAS | Eco. | 12 November 2020 | 19 November 2020 | 7 |
| Minister of Energies | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons | Office merged with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons |

## Composition

| Portfolio | Minister | Minister | Party | Party | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office |
| Portfolio | Portrait | Name | Party | Party | Incumbent | Incumbent | Term |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs | | Rogelio Mayta | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Freddy Mamani Machaca MAS Prof. 4 December 2020 Incumbent 1,482 Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Integration Benjamín Blanco MAS Bus. 1 December 2020 Incumbent 1,485 Vice Minister of Institutional and Consular Management Eva Gloria Chuquimia MAS Law. 1 December 2020 Incumbent 1,485 |||||||
| Ministry of the Presidency | | María Nela Prada | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Coordination and Government Management Freddy Bobaryn MAS Poli. 13 November 2020 Incumbent 1,503 Vice Minister of Coordination with Social Movements and Civil Society Juan Villca MAS Uni. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Autonomies David Pérez Rapu MAS Eco. 24 November 2020 13 May 2021 170 Álvaro Ruiz García MAS Law. 14 May 2021 Incumbent 1,321 Vice Minister of Communication Gabriela Alcón MAS Jrnl. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 |||||||
| Ministry of Government | | Eduardo del Castillo | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Citizen Security Gonzalo Lazcano MAS Law. 19 November 2020 7 April 2021 139 Roberto Ríos MAS Law. 7 April 2021 Incumbent 1,358 Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and Police Emilio Rodas MAS Law. 19 November 2020 28 June 2021 221 Nelson Cox MAS Law. 28 June 2021 10 January 2022 196 Office vacant 10 January 2022–present 1,080 Vice Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances Jaime Mamani MAS Uni. 13 November 2020 Incumbent 1,503 |||||||
| Ministry of Defense | | Edmundo Novillo | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Civil Defense Juan Carlos Calvimontes MAS Dr. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Defense and Cooperation to Integral Development José Manuel Puente MAS Mil. 17 November 2020 Incumbent 1,499 Vice Minister of the Fight Against Smuggling Gonzalo Renán Rodríguez MAS Mil. 17 November 2020 27 February 2021 102 Office vacant 27 February – 23 April 2021 55 Daniel Pedro Vargas MAS Mil. 23 April 2021 Incumbent 1,342 |||||||
| Ministry of Development Planning | | Gabriela Mendoza | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Planning and Coordination Diego Pacheco MAS – 10 December 2020 12 April 2021 123 Office vacant 12–16 April 2021 4 Marcelo Laura MAS – 16 April 2021 Incumbent 1,349 Vice Minister of Public Investment and External Financing Harley Rodríguez MAS – 10 December 2020 12 April 2021 123 Office vacant 12–16 April 2021 4 David Guachalla MAS – 16 April 2021 Incumbent 1,349 Vice Minister of Strategic Planning of the State Huáscar Ajata MAS – 11 January 2021 Incumbent 1,444 |||||||
| Ministry of Economy and Public Finance | | Marcelo Montenegro | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Budget and Fiscal Accounting Zenón Mamani MAS Acct. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Tax Policy Johnny Morales MAS Eco. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Pensions and Financial Services Ivette Espinoza MAS Eco. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of the Treasury and Public Credit Sergio Cusicanqui MAS Eco. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 |||||||
| Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energies | | Franklin Molina Ortiz | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons Luis Poma MAS Geo. 27 November 2020 Incumbent 1,489 Vice Minister of Industrialization, Commercialization, Transportation and Storage of Hydrocarbons William Donaire MAS – 23 November 2020 Incumbent 1,493 Vice Minister of Energy Planning and Development Mario Alberto Sapiencia Arrieta MAS – 16 November 2020 Incumbent 1,500 Vice Minister of High Energy Technologies Álvaro Arnez MAS Eng. 27 November 2020 Incumbent 1,489 Vice Minister of Electricity and Alternative Energies José María Salvador Romay MAS Eng. 30 November 2020 Incumbent 1,486 |||||||
| Ministry of Productive Development and the Plural Economy | | Néstor Huanca Chura | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Micro and Small Business Nelson Aruquipa MAS Eng. 4 December 2020 Incumbent 1,482 Vice Minister of Industrial Production at Medium and Large Scale Luis Siles MAS Eng. 4 December 2020 Incumbent 1,482 Vice Minister of Internal Trade Gróver Lacoa MAS Eng. 4 December 2020 Incumbent 1,482 Vice Minister of Tourism Eliana Ampuero MAS Tur. 4 December 2020 Incumbent 1,482 |||||||
| Ministry of Public Works, Services, and Housing | | Edgar Montaño | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Transport Nino Saúl Herbas MAS – 29 January 2021 Incumbent 1,426 Vice Minister of Telecommunications Edwin Édgar Arandia Rojas MAS Eng. 3 December 2020 Incumbent 1,483 Vice Minister of Housing and Urbanism Róger Cruz Pinedo MAS – 3 December 2020 Incumbent 1,483 |||||||
| Ministry of Mining and Metallurgy | | Ramiro Villavicencio | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Producitve Development and Metallurgical Mining Juan José Carvajal Huanca MAS – 20 November 2020 Incumbent 1,496 Vice Minister of Mining Policy, Regulation, and Inspection Wiston Medrano Escalante MAS Eng. 20 November 2020 Incumbent 1,496 Vice Minister of Mining Cooperatives Mauricio Guzmán Mujica MAS – 20 November 2020 Incumbent 1,496 |||||||
| Ministry of Justice and Institutional Transparency | | Iván Lima | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Justice and Fundamental Rights César Adalid Siles Bazán MAS Law. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Equal Opportunities Miriam Julieta Huacani Zapana MAS Soc. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Indigenous Peasant Justice Silvia Alarcón Heredia MAS Law. 24 November 2020 Incumbent 1,492 Vice Minister of Defense of the Rights of the User and Consumer Jorge Silva Trujillo MAS Law. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 Vice Minister of Institutional Transparency and the Fight Against Corruption Julia Susana Ríos Laguna MAS Law. 12 November 2020 Incumbent 1,504 |||||||
| Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Security | | Verónica Navia Tejada | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Labor and Social Security Víctor Quispe Ticona MAS Uni. 17 November 2020 Incumbent 1,499 Vice Minister of Employment, Civil Service and Cooperatives Martín Bazurco MAS – 18 December 2020 30 July 2021 224 Gonzalo Zambrana Ávila MAS Eco. 30 July 2021 Incumbent 1,244 |||||||
| Ministry of Health and Sports | | Jeyson Auza | | Movement for Socialism | 16 January 2021 | 16 January 2021 | 3 years, 344 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Health Insurance and Management of the Unified Health System Álvaro Terrazas MAS Dr. 23 November 2020 Incumbent 1,493 Vice Minister of Promotion, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Traditional Medicine María Renee Castro MAS Bio. 23 November 2020 Incumbent 1,493 Vice Minister of Health System Management Alejandra Hidalgo Ugarte MAS Dr. 23 November 2020 Incumbent 1,493 Vice Minister of Sports Cielo Veizaga MAS Ftbl. 17 December 2020 Incumbent 1,469 |||||||
| Ministry of Environment and Water | | Juan Santos Cruz | | Movement for Socialism | 9 November 2020 | 9 November 2020 | 4 years, 46 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation Carmelo Valda MAS Eng. 26 November 2020 Incumbent 1,490 Vice Minister of Environment, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Forest Management and Development Magin Herrera MAS – 20 November 2020 Incumbent 1,496 Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Wilder Quiroz Guzmán MAS – 26 November 2020 Incumbent 1,490 |||||||
| Ministry of Education | | Edgar Pary Chambi | | Movement for Socialism | 19 November 2021 | 19 November 2021 | 3 years, 36 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Regular Education Bartolomé Puma Velázquez MAS – 24 November 2020 Incumbent 1,492 Vice Minister of Higher Education and Professional Training Aurea Balderrama Almendras MAS – 24 November 2020 1 December 2021 372 José Luis Gutiérrez MAS – 1 December 2021 Incumbent 1,120 Vice Minister of Alternative and Special Education Sandra Cristina Cruz Nina MAS – 24 November 2020 Incumbent 1,492 Vice Minister of Science and Technology Julio Gómez Chambilla MAS Prof. 19 January 2021 Incumbent 1,436 |||||||
| Ministry of Rural Development and Lands | | Remmy Gonzáles | | Movement for Socialism | 20 April 2021 | 20 April 2021 | 3 years, 249 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Rural and Agricultural Development Álvaro Mollinedo MAS – 17 November 2020 Incumbent 1,499 Vice Minister of Coca and Integral Development Rolando Canceno Mamani MAS – 20 November 2020 17 September 2021 301 Juan Pablo Jove Álvarez MAS – 17 September 2021 Incumbent 1,195 Vice Minister of Lands Juan José García Cruz MAS – 1 February 2021 Incumbent 1,423 |||||||
| Ministry of Cultures Decolonization and Depatriarchalization | | Sabina Orellana | | Movement for Socialism | 20 November 2020 | 20 November 2020 | 4 years, 35 days |
| Vice Ministers Portfolio Vice Minister Party Prof. Took office Left office Term Ref. Vice Minister of Decolonization and Depatriarchalization Pelagio Condori MAS – 20 November 2020 Incumbent 1,496 Vice Minister of Interculturality Cergio Prudencio MAS Mus. 20 November 2020 12 March 2021 112 Office vacant 12 March – 7 July 2021 117 Juan Carlos Cordero MAS Mus. 7 July 2021 Incumbent 1,267 |||||||

## History

According to Arce, the council of ministers accompanying him would be "an austere government with the priority of reactivating the economy and examining the health crisis". The cabinet has been noted for the low profile of its appointed members, predominantly made up of low-level officials and academics who, despite their youth, have long management experience. Political scientist Helena Argirakis affirms that "certain fundamental features that characterize the MAS" are maintained in this cabinet, while at the same time it balances "experience and innovation, the country's regional diversity and professional, political, union and social training". Analysts also highlighted the distance between the appointees and former president and MAS leader Evo Morales. Among the ministers, only Minister of Defense Edmundo Novillo had any long history within the ranks of MAS, being president of the Chamber of Deputies and governor of Cochabamba. These factors reaffirmed Arce's statement that Morales would have no direct participation in his administration.
A year into the Arce administration, calls for renewal within the cabinet among sectors related to the MAS began to arise. On 30 December 2021, Morales publicly requested that Arce "improve his cabinet". The following day, Deputy Daniel Rojas went one step further, calling some members of Arce's cabinet "parasites" and affirming that certain social organizations were discontent with their management. Meanwhile, Deputy Juanito Angulo announced that the Plurinational Legislative Assembly would evaluate the cabinet upon returning from parliamentary recess and intended to make recommendations for change based on that. Deputy Héctor Arce stated that the assembly would wait for a response by 22 or 23 January —the traditional date in which Morales ratified his ministers in each year of his administration— "and if the suggested changes are not carried out, we will take action on the matter".
Among the complaints of the MAS was the view that some ministers were not sufficiently political. Eight ministers were observed as not holding political militancy within the MAS: Minister of Foreign Affairs Rogelio Mayta; of Government Eduardo del Castillo; of Justice, Iván Lima; of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro; of Hydrocarbons, Franklin Molina; of Mining, Ramiro Villavicencio; of Planning, Gabriela Mendoza; and of Labor, Verónica Navia Tejada. In particular, del Castillo and Lima were spotlighted for the lack of enforceable convictions against those responsible for the alleged coup d'état that ousted Morales during the 2019 political crisis. On 6 January 2022, the Unified Syndical Confederation of Rural Workers (CSUTCB) passed a motion to censure del Castillo and Lima along with five other ministers and three vice ministers for "not working at the height of their mandate and being negligent". On the matter, Página Siete pointed out that "Morales puts Arce in a jam because, after his demand, the president will have to make a decision: if he makes cabinet changes, he will show himself as a president without authority and as a puppet of Evo Morales, and if he does not do so, he will have to enter a public confrontation with his own political boss".
At a five-hour meeting held on 19 January 2022, the Arce administration and the Pact of Unity agreed to postpone any cabinet changes until 11 February. On that date, the unions conceded to the president, allowing him to ratify his cabinet without changing ministers. In exchange, Arce agreed to allow them to carry out a "permanent evaluation" of his cabinet on a monthly basis.

### Cabinets

| N° | Formed | Days | Decree |
| I | 9 November 2020 | 1,507 | Presidential Decree N° 4389 |

### Structural changes

Arce's cabinet initially received criticism from indigenous leaders such as Felipe Quispe due to its lack of indigenous representation. However, on 13 November 2020, Arce issued Supreme Decree N° 4393 which reinstated the Ministry of Cultures, which had previously been reduced to a vice-ministry under the Ministry of Education by the administration of Jeanine Áñez. The new office was dubbed as the Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization, and Depatriarchalization and was given the expanded task of combating "inequality between nationalities, as well as between men and women". As well as elevating the portfolio of cultures into its own ministry, the portfolio of sports was also stripped from the Ministry of Education and reassigned to the Ministry of Health. The Vice Ministry of Communications also noted that the creation of the new state agency came thanks to the unification of the energies and hydrocarbons portfolios into a single office, thus keeping the same number of cabinet posts.
The new changes came into effect on 19 November when Édgar Pozo, Adrián Quelca, and Franklin Molina Ortiz were ratified in their positions under new titles by Presidential Decree N° 4397. Sabina Orellana, of Quechua origin, was appointed to head the new ministry the following day, adding one indigenous representative to the cabinet.
| Portfolio | Part of | Transferred to | Date | Decree |
| Cultures | Ministry of Education | Ministry of Cultures | 13 November 2020 | Supreme Decree N° 4393 |
| Sports | Ministry of Education | Ministry of Health | 13 November 2020 | Supreme Decree N° 4393 |
| Energies | Ministry of Energies | Ministry of Hydrocarbons | 13 November 2020 | Supreme Decree N° 4393 |