Arizona Tribune - Bolivian economy minister fired after Congress vote

The removal of Jose Gabriel Espinoza comes as Bolivia suffers through its worst economic turbulence in four decades, which the center-right Paz, elected last year, is under pressure to fix.

Paz named the current environment minister, Oscar Mario Justiniano Pinto, to replace Espinoza in an interim capacity.

Congress had on Tuesday voted to remove Espinoza after he failed to appear for questions about his handling of the economy.

His ouster comes at a critical moment for Paz's nine-month-old administration, which was the target of mass protests earlier this year.

His decision to scrap decades-old fuel subsidies that had drained the Treasury's international dollar reserves caused prices to double, triggering widespread anger.

Demonstrations over worsening living conditions escalated into a revolt, marked by roadblocks that cut off major cities and calls for the president's resignation.

Paz succeeded in quelling the unrest by declaring a state of emergency in June.

E.Rodriguez--AT