Controversial Appointment of Former Bolivian Minister with Corruption Allegations to Lead Finance at Ministry of Science

Original article: Exministro de Bolivia con historial de corrupción asumiría jefatura financiera en el Ministerio de Ciencias Gonzalo Quiroga Soria, accused of fraud and manipulation of bids, is set to manage the finances of Minister Lincolao’s Office. The administration of José Kast faces scrutiny with the potential appointment of Gonzalo Quiroga Soria to the position of Head of Finance and Administration at the Ministry of Science. Quiroga, a prominent figure in the government of Jeanine Áñez, Bolivia’s former de facto president, will join Minister Ximena Lincolao’s cabinet after years of fostering connections with the Republican Party’s leadership and La Reina’s mayor, José Manuel Palacios (UDI).

Quiroga’s record includes serious corruption allegations from his time at Bolivia’s Ministry of Planning. Official documents and reports from 2020 accuse him of «selling the construction contract for the Sucre – Yamparaez road for USD $1,527,500 to the construction company KPN,» in a deal where he committed to securing a direct award for the project in exchange for substantial kickbacks. The controversy escalated when it was revealed that Quiroga had received an advance of $65,000, which he later attempted to repay with bounced checks.

Reports indicated that the former minister lacked sufficient funds in his bank account at the time he tried to cash the check, leading to fraud claims and a lawsuit filed with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Chuquisaca. Following Áñez’s departure from power, Quiroga sought refuge in Chile in early 2021, coinciding with the commencement of judicial proceedings against officials from her administration. Since relocating, the ex-minister has maintained a strong presence on social media, displaying unwavering loyalty to the former Bolivian leader and connecting with right-wing local politicians, quickly integrating into the circles that currently govern.

Anonymous reports suggest that Quiroga is currently exercising budgetary control functions at the Ministry of Science. His appointment raises ethical questions, given that the individual tasked with overseeing public resources for science in Chile has a history of defrauding both the state and private entities in his home country through irregular bidding practices. Despite his troubled past, Quiroga presents himself in his professional profile as an expert leader in «planning, financial control, and execution of complex projects.

» However, records from the Bolivian Judicial Body detail contentious legal proceedings under the code 151/2020-C, where he is named as a defendant in cases seeking transparency regarding his actions while managing Bolivia’s fiscal resources. So far, neither Minister Lincolao nor La Moneda Palace has commented on this appointment or the selection criteria that would allow a former official facing international fraud allegations to take charge of a ministerial financial department.