# Cabinet of Enrique Peñaranda

Enrique Peñaranda assumed office as the 38th President of Bolivia on 15 April 1940, and his term was terminated by a coup d'état on 20 December 1943. A general in the Chaco War, Peñaranda was brought forth by the traditional conservative political parties, sidelined since the end of the Chaco War, as their candidate in the 1940 general elections.
Peñaranda formed six cabinets during his under 44-month presidency, constituting the 102nd to 107th national cabinets of Bolivia.

## Cabinet ministers

Cabinet of Bolivia Presidency of Enrique Peñaranda, 1940–1943 :
| Office | Office | Name | Party | Party | Prof. | Term | Days | N.C | P.C |
| President | President | Enrique Peñaranda | | CONC | Mil. | 15 April 1940 – 20 December 1943 | 1344 | – | – |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez | | – | Law. | 26 August 1939 – 1 October 1941 | 767 | 101 | 1 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez | | – | Law. | 26 August 1939 – 1 October 1941 | 767 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez | | – | Law. | 26 August 1939 – 1 October 1941 | 767 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Eduardo Anze Matienzo | | – | Law. | 1 October 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 421 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Tomás Manuel Elío | | PL | Law. | 26 November 1942 – 16 September 1943 | 294 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Chancellor) | Carlos Salinas Aramayo | | PSU | Law. | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Propaganda | Julio de la Vega | | Military | Mil. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Demetrio Ramos | | Military | Mil. | 11 November 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 213 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Zacarías Murillo | | Military | Mil. | 12 June 1941 – 1 October 1941 | 111 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Adolfo Vilar Mendivil | | PL | Law. | 1 October 1941 – 20 July 1942 | 292 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Bernardo Navajas Trigo | | PL | Law. | 20 July 1942 – 26 November 1942 | 129 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Pedro Zilveti | | PRS | Law. | 26 November 1942 – 20 December 1943 | 389 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Government and Justice | Minister of Immigration | Pedro Zilveti | | PRS | Law. | 26 November 1942 – 20 December 1943 | 389 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of National Defense | – | Demetrio Ramos | | Military | Mil. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of National Defense | Minister of Colonization | Carlos Blanco Galindo | | Military | Mil. | 11 November 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 213 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of National Defense | Minister of Colonization | Jose Miguel Candia | | Military | Mil. | 12 June 1941 – 20 December 1943 | 921 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of National Defense | Minister of Colonization | Jose Miguel Candia | | Military | Mil. | 12 June 1941 – 20 December 1943 | 921 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of National Defense | Minister of Colonization | Jose Miguel Candia | | Military | Mil. | 12 June 1941 – 20 December 1943 | 921 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of National Defense | Minister of Colonization | Jose Miguel Candia | | Military | Mil. | 12 June 1941 – 20 December 1943 | 921 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Edmundo Vásquez | | PRS | Law. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Joaquín Espada | | PRG | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 16 September 1943 | 1039 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Joaquín Espada | | PRG | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 16 September 1943 | 1039 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Joaquín Espada | | PRG | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 16 September 1943 | 1039 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Joaquín Espada | | PRG | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 16 September 1943 | 1039 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Finance and Statistics | Minister of Finance and Statistics | Luis Calvo | | PRG | – | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | Office blank 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 |
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Víctor Paz Estenssoro | | PSI | Law. | 12 June 1941 – 17 June 1941 | 5 | 104 | 3 |
| 3 ||||||
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez | | – | – | 23 July 1941 – 16 September 1943 | 785 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez | | – | – | 23 July 1941 – 16 September 1943 | 785 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez | | – | – | 23 July 1941 – 16 September 1943 | 785 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Economy | Minister of Economy | Germán Chávez | | PL | – | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Industry and Commerce | Minister of Industry and Commerce | Hugo Ernst Rivera | | PSU | Dip. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Office discontinued from 11 November 1940 ||||||||
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Justo Rodas Eguino | | PRS | Law. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Oscar Mariaca Pando | | PL | Mil. | 11 November 1940 – 9 May 1941 | 179 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Adolfo Vilar Mendivil | | PL | Law. | 9 May 1941 – 12 June 1941 | 34 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Justo Rodas Eguino | | PRS | Law. | 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 532 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Justo Rodas Eguino | | PRS | Law. | 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 532 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | Julio Sanjinés | | Military | Mil. | 26 November 1942 – 16 September 1943 | 294 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Public Works and Communications | Minister of Public Works and Communications | José Salmón Ballivián | | – | – | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Mining and Petrol | Minister of Mining and Petrol | Alfredo Jordán | | PL | Law. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Mining and Petrol | Minister of Mining and Petrol | Edmundo Vásquez | | PRS | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 213 | 103 | 2 |
| Office discontinued from 12 June 1941 ||||||||
| Minister of Work and Social Security | – | Bernardo Navajas Trigo | | PL | Law. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Work and Social Security | Minister of Health | Abelardo Ibáñez Benavente | | – | Dr. | 11 November 1940 – 26 November 1942 | 745 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Work and Social Security | Minister of Health | Abelardo Ibáñez Benavente | | – | Dr. | 11 November 1940 – 26 November 1942 | 745 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Work and Social Security | Minister of Health | Abelardo Ibáñez Benavente | | – | Dr. | 11 November 1940 – 26 November 1942 | 745 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Work and Social Security | Minister of Health | Juan Manuel Balcázar | | PRS | Dr. | 26 November 1942 – 16 September 1943 | 294 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Work and Social Security | Minister of Health | Enrique Hertzog | | PRG | Dr. | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Health and Hygiene | Minister of Health and Hygiene | Abelardo Ibáñez Benavente | | – | Dr. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Office under the Ministry of Work and Social Security from 11 November 1942 ||||||||
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Gustavo Adolfo Otero | | – | Wri. | 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 423 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Gustavo Adolfo Otero | | – | Wri. | 15 April 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 423 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Adolfo Vilar Mendivil | | PL | Law. | 12 June 1941 – 1 October 1941 | 111 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Arturo Pinto Escalier | | PRG | Dr. | 1 October 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 292 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Rubén Terrazas | | PRG | Law. | 26 November 1942 – 16 September 1943 | 294 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs | Francisco Lazcano Soruco | | PSU | – | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Irrigation, Immigration, and Colonization | Alcides Arguedas | | PL | Wri. | 15 April 1940 – 11 November 1940 | 210 | 102 | 1 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Irrigation, Mining, and Petrol | Edmundo Vásquez | | PRS | Law. | 11 November 1940 – 12 June 1941 | 213 | 103 | 2 |
| Minister of Agriculture | – | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 104 | 3 |
| Minister of Agriculture | – | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | Office vacant 12 June 1941 – 26 November 1942 | 105 | 4 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Livestock | Arturo Galindo | | PL | Law. | 26 November 1942 – 16 September 1943 | 294 | 106 | 5 |
| Minister of Agriculture | Minister of Livestock and Colonization | Julio Céspedes Añez | | PRS | – | 16 September 1943 – 20 December 1943 | 95 | 107 | 6 |

## Composition
### First cabinet

Peñaranda's first cabinet was formed upon taking office on 15 April 1940 and was the 102nd national cabinet of Bolivia. Foreign Minister Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez was the only holdover from the interim Carlos Quintanilla government. Military figures Julio de la Vega and Demetrio Ramos were made Minister of Government, Justice, and Propaganda and Minister of National Defense respectively. Alcides Arguedas, a Liberal Party writer, journalist, and critic of the previous leftist governments, was made Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Colonization, and Immigration. Another noted writer, Gustavo Adolfo Otero was made Minister of Education, Fine Arts, and Indigenous Affairs. The Office of Fine Arts under the Ministry of Education and the Office of Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture were both newly established as part of this cabinet.

### Second cabinet

Peñaranda's second cabinet was formed on 11 November 1940 and was the 103rd national cabinet of Bolivia. With the resignation of Arguedas, the offices he held were redistributed to different ministers. In this and future cabinets, the Office of Immigration would be held by the Ministry of Government and the Office of Colonization by the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Mining and Petrol was assigned to the new Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmundo Vásquez. The Ministries of Propaganda and Industry and Commerce were discontinued. As was the Ministry of Hygiene, with the Ministry of Health falling under the purview of the Ministry of Work and Social Security. Health Minister Abelardo Ibáñez Benavente also became Minister of Work.

### Third and fourth cabinets

Peñaranda's third cabinet was formed on 12 June 1941 and was the 104th national cabinet of Bolivia. This cabinet saw the establishment of the Ministry of Economy separate from the Ministry of Finance and Statistics. Future President Víctor Paz Estenssoro was its first minister, though he only held the office for five days.
Peñaranda's third cabinet was formed on 1 October 1941 and was the 105th national cabinet of Bolivia. The Ministry of Agriculture remained vacant in both the third and fourth cabinets.

### Fifth and sixth cabinets

Peñaranda's fifth cabinet was formed on 26 November 1942 and was the 106th national cabinet of Bolivia. The Ministry of Agriculture was filled once again with the addition of the new Ministry of Livestock, though with the Ministry of Mining and Petrol being discontinued.
Peñaranda's sixth and final cabinet was formed on 16 September 1943 and was the 107th national cabinet of Bolivia. Faced with opposition from the left-wing in Congress, Peñaranda attempted to form a national unity government for his seventh cabinet. Representatives from the United Socialist Party (PSU) were invited to join the administration. These were Carlos Salinas Aramayo (Foreign Minister), the then-leader of the PSU, and Francisco Lazcano Soruco (Education).
In December of the same year, Enrique Peñaranda would be deposed by liberal forces of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR) and left-wing young officers led by Gualberto Villarroel.

### Established Ministries

* Office of Fine Arts (under Education): Gustavo Adolfo Otero, first holder from 15 April 1940
* Office of Irrigation (under Agriculture): Alcides Arguedas (PL), first holder from 15 April 1940
* Ministry of Economy: Víctor Paz Estenssoro (PSI), first holder from 12 June 1941
* Office of Livestock (under Agriculture): Arturo Galindo (PL), first holder from 26 November 1942

## Analysis

The six cabinets of Enrique Peñaranda reflected a brief return to the traditional political order Bolivia had seen prior to the Chaco War. The majority of ministerial positions were filled by members of the Genuine Republican (PRG), Socialist Republican (PRS), and Liberal (LP), parties which had been sidelined by the Military Socialist administrations of David Toro and Germán Busch. Three Bolivian presidents served in the Peñaranda administration. Minister of Defense Carlos Blanco Galindo had served as Interim President from 1930 to 1931. Finance Minister Víctor Paz Estenssoro and Health and Labor Minister Enrique Hertzog would both be elected president in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

## Gallery

* Alberto Ostria Gutiérrez – Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Eduardo Anze Matienzo – Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Tomás Manuel Elío – Minister of Foreign Affairs (PL)
* Carlos Salinas Aramayo – Minister of Foreign Affairs (PSU)
* Demetrio Ramos – Minister of Government and Minister of National Defense
* Adolfo Vilar Mendivil – Minister of Government, Minister of Public Works, and Minister of Education (PL)
* Pedro Zilveti – Minister of Government (PRS)
* Bernardo Navajas Trigo – Minister of Government (PL)
* Carlos Blanco Galindo – Minister of National Defense
* Luis Calvo – Minister of Finance (PRG)
* Víctor Paz Estenssoro – Minister of Economy (PSI)
* Justo Rodas Eguino – Minister of Public Works (PRS)
* Juan Manuel Balcázar – Minister of Work and Health (PRS)
* Enrique Hertzog – Minister of Work and Health (PRG)
* Gustavo Adolfo Otero – Minister of Education
* Rubén Terrazas – Minister of Education (PRG)
* Arturo Pinto – Minister of Education (PRG)
* Alcides Arguedas – Minister of Agriculture (PL)