Originally published in Tinta Roja (11/25/19)

Translated by Red Star Publishers

By Simon Arancibia R.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Bolivia

Every government responds to the interests of a social class, of a fraction of a class or an alliance between them. The regime that has been formed in the country headed by Jeanine Añez responds directly to the interests of the financial oligarchy and the big pro-imperialist monopolies. The main ministers that make up the Añez cabinet are a clear example of the class interests that her government defends, it is a government of the financial oligarchy, of monopoly capital, servile to Yankee imperialism.

The CAINCO (Chamber of Industry, Commerce, Services and Tourism of Santa Cruz) is taking on a direct role with three of its former directors in the ministerial cabinet with the portfolios of Productive Development (Rojo Parada), Planning (Melchor Diaz, President of the Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra) and Environment (Pinckert). Yes! the same CAINCO that is responsible for the large burning of land in the Chiquitanía, today has its representative in the Ministry of Environment and Water. The chambers of exporters that have promoted the export of livestock and agro-industrial products have their representative in Productive Development (Rojo Parada).

The Ganadero financial group has managed to place itself in the cabinet with former executives in the portfolios of Economy (Parada Rivero) and Productive Development (Rojo Parada); this financial group also owns the Unitel television channel. The head of Economy was also the general advisor of the Government of Santa Cruz (Democrats) and he is accompanied in the government of “transition” by the deputies and senators of his bank (Democratic Unity) – Murillo in the Ministry of Government, Coimbra in Justice , Nuñez in Public Works and Añez herself. Another political force represented in the cabinet is the Christian Democratic Party, whose former Senator Zamora now heads the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.

The most prominent international relations in the new cabinet are the new Chancellor Longaric, former director of the Idea Foundation (funded by USAID and NED). In other words, the new head of international relations of the country comes from a job close to the main imperialist agencies in the region the NED (National Endowment for Democracy) and USAID (US Agency for International Development). The “Interim President” is deepening these relations with her ex-husband (Hincapié), who was a deputy of the former Colombian president Uribe, of the most conservative and pro-Yankee right wing in the region.

Some more active sectors of the opposition to the MAS were rewarded: the Minister of Health, Cruz Senzano is from the Medical College that held a strike in the last months of the MAS government; and the Minister of Communication Lazárraga, had recently had the radio program Cabildeo that served as a media platform for the opposition. The Minister of the Presidency, Xerxes Justiniano, Jr. is Fernando Camacho’s personal lawyer of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, who also represents the “pack” accused of the rape of an 18-year-old girl; he has a tour as leader of the Blooming Football Team. His client Fernando Camacho Vaca of the Pro Santa Cruz Committee, who was the one who entered the Palacio Quemado with the bible and was next to Añez (also with the bible) in her “oath,” is the son of the main shareholder of the National Life Group (insurers, telecommunications, gas and agribusiness).

It is not an accident that the financial oligarchy is in a position to administer state power, but is the product of a decade of incubation and growth. Between 2008 and 2009, our country experienced the so-called “civic-prefectural coup” which was an escalation of the clashes between the crescent [the eastern region of the country, the headquarters of the right wing – translator’s note] and the central government. The resolution of this conflict took place within the framework of the new Political Constitution of the State [CPE] agreed to by the representatives of the oligarchy and the MAS government; instead of defeating the traditional right they chose to make an agreement with it. Starting with the new CPE, the financial oligarchy enjoyed optimal conditions to grow and develop; they have benefited from numerous state contracts, made-to-measure laws, and concessions in every way. The most reactionary strata of the Bolivian bourgeoisie that Morales considered as “partners” and “patriotic business owners,” today have directly assumed state management. Today the representatives of the most reactionary and pro-imperialist oligarchy have taken state power, called for new general elections to legitimize and reaffirm a new government of its class.

Categories: Bolivia, Imperialism, International, Workers Struggle