List of presidents of Bolivia

This article contains a list of presidents of Bolivia, from the Declaration of Independence after the conclusion of the War of Independence (1825) to the present day.

Background

The origins of Bolivia are trackables to Chuquisaca Revolution of 1809 in Upper Peru, followed by La Paz revolution within the same year, which was part of the Latin American wars of independence against Spanish colonial governments. Despite other struggles for independence, the insurgents immediately formed a constitutional government who rejected any oath or compromise with Spain. The rebel government also integrated all parts of population, including mestizos and indigenous. However, by the early 1810, the rebels were defeated, with their leaders executed or hunted down, leaving the neighboring countries of Peru and Argentina to fight for the controls of the Upper Peru areas.

In early 1825, General Antonio José de Sucre led his army to Upper Peru after his triumph in the Battle of Ayacucho on 9 December 1824, which ended the Spanish rule over Peru, entering La Paz on 9 February 1825. After his arrival, he issued a decree considered the milestone of Bolivian independence, calling a "General Assembly of Deputies of Upper Peru" in the town of Oruro (then moved to Chuquisaca, present-day Sucre) to clarify the political status of the province. On 6 August 1825, the representatives voted for three alternatives: annexation to Peru, annexation to Argentina or full independence and establishment of a republican state. The large majority of deputies opted for independence, and Upper Peru was declared a country in the same day. The General Simón Bolívar was deeply popular in the region, and was immediately elected by the General Assembly as President. To honor who was considered one of the great libertadores, the delegates chose to name Upper Peru as "Republic of Bolívar", changing it into Bolivia in 3 October 1825, echoing the delegate Manuel Martín Cruz who stated "If to Romulus, Rome; to Bolívar, Bolivia" (Si de Rómulo, Roma; de Bolívar, Bolivia).

History

During its more than 192 years of independence, Bolivia has been ruled by the military leaders who fought for independence, the leaders of the War of the Pacific, representatives of the aristocracy, and democratically elected leaders. Also, the history of the presidency has involved civil wars, more than 190 coups and violence.

Different titles have been used, such as "Liberator of Bolivia" (used by Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre), and "Supreme Protector" (by Andrés de Santa Cruz).

The following table contains a list of the individuals who have served as President of Bolivia.

List of Presidents of Bolivia

N	Picture	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Party	Title(s)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |1		Simón Bolívar (1783–1830)	11 August 1825	29 December 1825	Independent	Liberator of Bolivia
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |2		Antonio José de Sucre (1795–1830)	29 December 1825	18 April 1828	Independent	Liberator of Bolivia (29 December 1825 – 19 June 1826) President (19 June 1826 – 18 April 1828)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |3		José María Pérez de Urdininea (1784–1865)	18 April 1828	2 August 1828	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |4		José Miguel de Velasco Franco (1795–1859)	2 August 1828	18 December 1828	Independent	Acting President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |5		Pedro Blanco Soto (1795–1829)	18 December 1828	1 January 1829	Independent	Provisional President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |4		José Miguel de Velasco Franco (1795–1859)	1 January 1829	24 May 1829	Independent	Acting President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |6		Andrés de Santa Cruz (1792–1865)	24 May 1829	20 February 1839	Independent	Provisional President (29 May 1829 – 15 August 1831) President (15 August 1831 – 20 February 1839) Supreme Protector of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (28 October 1836 – 20 February 1839)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |4		José Miguel de Velasco Franco (1795–1859)	20 February 1839	10 June 1841	Independent	Provisional Supreme Chief (20 February 1839 – 16 June 1839) Provisional President (16 June 1839 – 15 August 1840) President (15 August 1840 – 10 June 1841)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |7		Sebastián Ágreda (1795–1875)	10 June 1841	9 July 1841	Independent	Provisional Chief
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |8		Mariano Calvo (1782–1842)	9 July 1841	22 September 1841	Independent	Acting President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |9		José Ballivián (1805–1852)	22 September 1841	23 December 1847	Independent	Provisional President (22 September 1841 – 15 August 1844) President (15 August 1844 – 23 December 1847)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |10		Eusebio Guilarte Vera (1805–1849)	23 December 1847	2 January 1848	Independent	Interim President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |4		José Miguel de Velasco Franco (1795–1859)	18 January 1848	6 December 1848	Independent	Provisional President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |11		Manuel Isidoro Belzu (1808–1865)	6 December 1848	15 August 1855	Independent	Provisional President (6 December 1848 – 15 August 1850) President (15 August 1850 – 15 August 1855)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |12		Jorge Córdova (1822–1861)	15 August 1855	21 October 1857	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |13		José María Linares (1808–1861)	21 October 1857	14 January 1861	Independent	Provisional President (21 October 1857 – 1858) Dictator for Life (1858 – 14 January 1861)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |14		José María de Achá (1810–1868)	4 May 1861	28 December 1864	Independent	Provisional President (4 May 1861 – 15 August 1862) President (15 August 1862 – 28 December 1864)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |15		Mariano Melgarejo (1820–1871)	28 December 1864	15 January 1871	Independent	Provisional President (28 December 1864 – 15 August 1870) President (15 August 1870 – 15 January 1871)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |16		Agustín Morales (1808–1872)	15 January 1871	27 November 1872	Independent	Supreme Chief of the Revolution (15 January 1871 – 21 January 1871) Provisional President (21 January 1871 – 25 August 1872) President (25 August 1872 – 27 November 1872)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |17		Tomás Frías Ametller (1804–1884)	28 November 1872	9 May 1873	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |18		Adolfo Ballivián (1831–1874)	9 May 1873	14 February 1874	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |17		Tomás Frías Ametller (1804–1884)	14 February 1874	4 May 1876	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |19		Hilarión Daza (1840–1894)	4 May 1876	17 April 1879	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |20		Pedro José Domingo de Guerra (1809–1879)	17 April 1879	10 September 1879	Independent	President
21		Narciso Campero (1813–1896)	19 January 1880	3 September 1884	Conservative Party	President
22		Gregorio Pacheco (1823–1899)	3 September 1884	15 August 1888	Democratic Party	President
23		Aniceto Arce (1824–1906)	15 August 1888	11 August 1892	Conservative Party	President
24		Mariano Baptista (1832–1907)	11 August 1892	19 August 1896	Conservative Party	President
25		Severo Fernández (1849–1925)	19 August 1896	12 April 1899	Conservative Party	President
26		Government Junta	12 April 1899	25 October 1899	Military	Members: José Manuel Pando Serapio Reyes Ortiz Macario Pinilla Vargas
27		José Manuel Pando (1849–1917)	25 October 1899	14 August 1904	Liberal Party	President
28		Ismael Montes (1861–1933)	14 August 1904	12 October 1909	Liberal Party	President
29		Eliodoro Villazón (1848–1939)	12 October 1909	14 October 1913	Liberal Party	President
28		Ismael Montes (1861–1933)	14 October 1913	15 October 1917	Liberal Party	President
30		José Gutiérrez Guerra (1869–1929)	15 October 1917	12 July 1920	Liberal Party	President
		Government Junta	13 July 1920	28 January 1921	Socialist Republican Party	President
31		José María Escalier	28 January 1921	28 January 1921	Socialist Republican Party	President
32		José Manuel Ramírez	28 January 1921	28 January 1921	Socialist Republican Party	President
33		Bautista Saavedra (1870–1939)	28 January 1921	3 September 1925	Socialist Republican Party	President
34		Felipe S. Guzmán (1879–1932)	3 September 1925	10 January 1926	Socialist Republican Party	Provisional President
35		Hernando Siles Reyes (1882–1942)	10 January 1926	28 May 1930	Nationalist Party	President
36		. Fidel Vega	28 May 1930	25 June 1930		Members: Alberto Díez de Medina Germán Antelo Arauz (to 17 June 1930) Franklin Mercado David Toro José Aguirre Achá Fidel Vega Carlos Banzer Ezequiel Romecín Calderón (from 17 June 1930)
37		David Toro (1898–1977)	25 June 1930	25 June 1930	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |38		Carlos Blanco Galindo (1882–1943)	28 June 1930	5 March 1931	Military	Chairman of the Military Government Junta Members:
39		Bernardino Bilbao Rioja	5 March 1931	5 March 1931
40		Daniel Salamanca Urey (1869–1935)	5 March 1931	27 November 1934	Genuine Republican Party	President
41		José Luis Tejada Sorzano (1882–1938)	28 November 1934	17 May 1936	Liberal Party	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |42		Germán Busch (1904–1939)	17 May 1936	20 May 1936	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |43		David Toro (1898–1977)	20 May 1936	13 July 1937	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |42		Germán Busch (1904–1939)	13 July 1937	23 August 1939	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta (13 July 1937 – 28 May 1938) President (28 May 1938 – 23 August 1939)
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |44		Carlos Quintanilla (1888–1964)	23 August 1939	15 April 1940	Military	Provisional President
45		Enrique Peñaranda (1892–1969)	15 April 1940	20 December 1943	Concordance	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |46		Gualberto Villarroel (1908–1946)	20 December 1943	21 July 1946	Military	Chairman of the Government Junta (20 December 1943 – 5 April 1944) Provisional President (5 April 1944 – 6 August 1944) President (6 August 1944 – 21 July 1946)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |47		Néstor Guillén (1890–1966)	21 July 1946	15 August 1946	Independent	Chairman of the Provisional Government Junta
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |48		Tomás Monje (1884–1954)	15 August 1946	10 March 1947	Independent	Chairman of the Provisional Government Junta
49		Enrique Hertzog (1896–1980)	10 March 1947	22 October 1949	Republican Socialist Unity Party	President
50		Mamerto Urriolagoitía (1895–1974)	22 October 1949	16 May 1951	Republican Socialist Unity Party	Acting President (22 October 1949 – 24 October 1949) President (24 October 1949 – 16 May 1951)
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |51		Hugo Ballivián (1901–1993)	16 May 1951	11 April 1952	Military	Chairman of the Military Junta Members: Antonió Seleme Vargas Humberto Torres Ortiz
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |52		Hernán Siles Zuazo (1914–1996)	11 April 1952	16 April 1952	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	Provisional President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |53		Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	16 April 1952	6 August 1956	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |52		Hernán Siles Zuazo (1914–1996)	6 August 1956	6 August 1960	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |53		Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	6 August 1960	4 November 1964	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |54		René Barrientos (1919–1969)	5 November 1964	26 May 1965	Military	Chairman of the Military Junta
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |			26 May 1965	2 January 1966	Military	Co-Chairmen of the Military Junta
	Alfredo Ovando Candía (1918–1982)
		style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |55	2 January 1966	6 August 1966	Military	Chairman of the Military Junta
style="background:Template:Popular Christian Movement/meta/color; color:white" |56		René Barrientos (1919–1969)	6 August 1966	27 April 1969	Popular Christian Movement	President
57		Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas (1925–2005)	27 April 1969	26 September 1969	Social Democratic Party	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |55		Alfredo Ovando Candía (1918–1982)	26 September 1969	6 October 1970	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |58		Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1970	6 October 1970	7 October 1971	Military	Members: Efraín Guachalla Ibáñez Fernando Sattori Ribera Alberto Albarracín Crespo
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |59		Juan José Torres (1920–1976)	7 October 1970	21 August 1971	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |60		Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1971	21 August 1971	22 August 1971	Military	Members:
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |61		Hugo Banzer (1926–2002)	22 August 1971	21 July 1978	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |62		Víctor González Fuentes	21 July 1978	21 July 1978	Military	Chairman of the Military Junta
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |63	File:Juan Pereda Asbún.jpg	Juan Pereda (1931–2012)	21 July 1978	24 November 1978	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |64		David Padilla (1927–2016)	24 November 1978	8 August 1979	Military	Chairman of the Military Junta
style="background:Template:Authentic Revolutionary Party/meta/color; color:white" |65		Wálter Guevara (1912–1996)	8 August 1979	1 November 1979	Authentic Revolutionary Party	Acting President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |66	File:Alberto Natusch Bush.jpg	Alberto Natusch (1933–1994)	1 November 1979	16 November 1979	Military	President
67		Lidia Gueiler Tejada (1921–2011)	16 November 1979	17 July 1980	Revolutionary Left Front	Acting President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |68		Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1980	17 July 1980	18 July 1980	Military	Members:
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |69		Luis García Meza (1929–2018)	18 July 1980	4 August 1981	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |70		Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1981	4 August 1981	4 September 1981	Military	Members:
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |71	File:Celso Torrelio Villa.jpg	Celso Torrelio (1933–1999)	4 September 1981	19 July 1982	Military	President
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |72		Junta of Commanders of the Armed Forces 1982	19 July 1982	21 July 1982	Military	Members:
style="background:Template:Military Rule/meta/color; color:black" |73		Guido Vildoso (1937–)	21 July 1982	10 October 1982	Military	President
52		Hernán Siles Zuazo (1914–1996)	10 October 1982	6 August 1985	Democratic and Popular Union	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |53		Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	6 August 1985	6 August 1989	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Left Movement (Bolivia)/meta/color; color:white" |74		Jaime Paz Zamora (1939–)	6 August 1989	6 August 1993	Revolutionary Left Movement	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |75		Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (1930–)	6 August 1993	6 August 1997	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Nationalist Democratic Action/meta/color; color:white" |76		Hugo Banzer (1926–2002)	6 August 1997	7 August 2001	Nationalist Democratic Action	President
style="background:Template:Nationalist Democratic Action/meta/color; color:white" |77		Jorge Quiroga (1960–)	7 August 2001	6 August 2002	Nationalist Democratic Action	President
style="background:Template:Revolutionary Nationalist Movement/meta/color; color:white" |78		Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (1930–)	6 August 2002	17 October 2003	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |79		Carlos Mesa (1953–)	17 October 2003	9 June 2005	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color; color:black" |80	File:R veltze presidente.jpg	Eduardo Rodríguez (1956–)	9 June 2005	22 January 2006	Independent	President
style="background:Template:Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)/meta/color; color:white" |81		Evo Morales (1959–)	22 January 2006	10 November 2019	Movement for Socialism	President
style="background:Template:Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)/meta/color;"|82	File:Adriana Salvatierra (cropped).jpg	Adriana Salvatierra (1959–)	10 November 2019	11 November 2019	Movement for Socialism	President
style="background:Template:Social Democrat Movement/meta/color;" |83		Jeanine Áñez (1967–)	11 November 2019		Democrat Social Movement	President

Latest election

Main article: 2019 Bolivian general election

Historical reputation

In 1983, a poll was taken by the newspaper Última Hora to determine which seven historical presidents were regarded as most significant. The "winners" were Antonio José de Sucre, Andrés de Santa Cruz, Manuel Isidoro Belzu, Mariano Melgarejo, Aniceto Arce, Ismael Montes, and Víctor Paz Estenssoro.

Presidential succession

In the event of the death or permanent incapacity of the President, the Vice President of Bolivia would assume the office. The President of the Senate and the President of the Chamber of Deputies are third and fourth in the line of succession. In the 2005 political crisis, with all of these positions exhausted, Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, the Chief Justice of the Bolivian Supreme Court, assumed the presidency. Under the 2009 Constitution, however, the assumption of power by the President of the Chamber of Deputies automatically precipitates an election within 90 days.<ref name="cons">"Artículo 169: En caso de impedimento o ausencia definitiva de la Presidenta o del Presidente del Estado, será reemplazada o reemplazado en el cargo por la Vicepresidenta o el Vicepresidente y, a falta de ésta o éste, por la Presidenta o el Presidente del Senado, y a falta de ésta o éste por la Presidente o el Presidente de la Cámara de Diputados. En este último caso, se convocarán nuevas elecciones en el plazo máximo de noventa días." {{cite book |title=Nueva Constitución Política del Estado |

Acting President

In the case of temporary incapacity or absence from the country, the title of Acting President (Spanish: Presidente en ejercicio) is transferred to lower officials according to the order of presidential succession. In September 2012, Senate President Gabriela Montaño became the first woman to assume this office since the presidency of Lidia Gueiler Tejada.

Timeline

Living former presidents

As of 18 October 2024, there are six living former presidents:

• 
  Guido Vildoso
  (1982)
  (1937-04-05) April 5, 1937
  
• 
  Jaime Paz Zamora
  (1989–1993)
  (1939-04-15) April 15, 1939
  
• 
  Jorge Quiroga
  (2001–2002)
  (1960-05-05) May 5, 1960
  
• 
  Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada
  (2002–2003)
  (1930-07-11) July 11, 1930
  
• 
  Carlos Mesa
  (2003–2005)
  (1953-08-12) August 12, 1953
  
• Eduardo Rodríguez (2005–2006) (1956-03-02) March 2, 1956 (age 68)
  Eduardo Rodríguez
  (2005–2006)
  (1956-03-02) March 2, 1956
  

See also

• President of Bolivia
• Vice President of Bolivia
• Constitution of Bolivia
• Politics of Bolivia