LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivian law enforcement officials on Wednesday arrested former President Luis Arce as part of a corruption investigation, the country’s vice president said on social media, opening an uncertain new chapter in Bolivia’s politics just a month after the inauguration of conservative President Rodrigo Paz ended 20 years of socialist rule.
In a video posted to his TikTok account, Vice President Edman Lara congratulated police forces for detaining ex-President Arce, who left office just over a month ago. He said Arce was arrested on alleged embezzlement charges, without giving further information.
A spokesperson for Lara confirmed that the vice president posted the message on his official TikTok account.
Addressing his hundreds of thousands of followers, Lara vowed Arce was just the first of many targets as the new government seeks accountability for alleged corruption at the highest levels.
“We have said it before: Luis Arce will be the first to go to jail, and we are delivering on that promise,” Lara said.
