By Oscar Antezana, El Dia:

My dear readers: over the last month I was absent from this column due to vacation. I barely followed national or international news. My mind needed more rest than my body. A few days ago I landed—both physically and mentally—and all it took was opening the newspapers to confirm that, in Bolivia, reality had not gone on vacation.

The Beller-Cerimedo case provokes a painfully familiar mix of sadness, anger, and helplessness. But we know the script: investigation, headlines, statements, the passage of time, oblivion, and probably nothing. The President tried to let the storm pass, but only recently spoke out, apparently due to political pressure from other parties: a disgrace. However, his statements seem to contradict the evidence—photographs—and the chats, which still need to be verified. But if they are verified, we are facing a President who, at the very least, tolerates and covers up wrongdoing, just as happened with Evo and Tilín. It would no longer be merely disgraceful—it would be unacceptable. Some expected—though I did not—that this government would break with certain practices inherited from the MAS. There is also the suitcase case, with the main suspect released, among other recent episodes.

The case of former minister Espinoza is no help either: “I leave with the peace of mind that I gave it my all.” That effort was not enough; he did not measure up. Ministers should be judged by results, but since there is not even a government plan in which he should have played a leading role, everything is adrift and there are no clear objectives. It is now reported that the new minister has been tasked by the President with obtaining and securing more foreign loans to slow the crisis. During the campaign, the President emphatically and demagogically declared that he would not take on debt, that there was plenty of money in the country; it was all a lie, and he knew it. Evo and Tilín squandered the reserves; Paz will bury us in debt.

And what is the government doing to “clean up” the economy, increase productivity, boost exports, reduce public spending, and curb corruption? This government was elected to solve the country’s problems—or at least begin to solve them—not to postpone them and, in doing so, plunge us into a deeper crisis and greater poverty. The apparent slogan is: “Let the next government deal with it,” once again, just as Evo and Tilín did. But the serious issue is that the consequences grow worse every time because resources are running out and debt is increasing.

Now they are considering repealing—although opinions within the executive branch are divided—Supreme Decree 5676, which raises the price of diesel, because it has generated and would continue generating conflict. Yes, it is true: it will affect costs and prices, but it is unavoidable. For decades, thanks to Evo and Tilín, through pure demagoguery and abundant resources, we lived in an Alice in Wonderland fantasy with cheap, heavily subsidized fuels—one of the very causes that led us to where we are today.

Now that they have wrecked the economy, there is no choice but to face reality. It is the task and responsibility of this government, and of the entire population—including governors, mayors, and business leaders—to confront these challenges in the best way possible, no matter how painful they may be. But this government has lost credibility and lacks leadership, or lacks the courage to exercise it; everything is done the easy way, without clarity.

Finally, the President announced—for a change—that efforts are underway to manage the economy, stabilize the dollar, and restore the independence of the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB). Are they reinventing the wheel? Nearly nine months have passed. Everyone knows what must be done, and the country has done it before. Reduce the fiscal deficit. To cut the umbilical cord between the government and the Central Bank, they could simply photocopy the decree issued more than twenty years ago and little else. What is lacking is the courage to cut public spending and stop depending on Central Bank financing.

It is also incomprehensible that we do not publicly know the work plan of the recently appointed Bolivian ambassador to Paraguay—or of any other ambassador, for that matter. Bolivia desperately needs foreign investment, new markets, and more exports. Saying that an ambassador will “attract investment” and “expand markets” is not a plan; it is simply a description of the job.

A real plan must include objectives, activities, timelines, and measurable targets. How much investment will he seek to attract? Which products will he promote? Within what timeframe? Are we sending an ambassador to Paraguay with a mission, or are we paying off a political campaign debt? Is the same being done—or will it be done—with other ambassadors? What are the MAS-appointed ambassadors doing, those who have a different agenda and do not know the “ABC” of economics and exports? What a waste of time, opportunities, and resources! Meanwhile, our neighbors and the rest of the world move forward.

I returned from vacation hoping for some good news. Instead, I found a President who is far too absent when he should be facing the public and sending unmistakable signals of transparency; a President who seems lost and confused, weak, with significantly diminished credibility and lacking the courage to “take the bull by the horns.”

Until when?

Oscar Antezana Malpartida | Columnist