Bolivian authorities have detained former President Luis Arce in connection with an investigation into alleged embezzlement of public funds intended for indigenous communities. The detention comes less than a month after Arce left the presidency following his defeat in the recent elections to the centrist alliance led by Rodrigo Paz. The measure was ordered by the Prosecutor's Office as part of the investigation into irregularities linked to the Indigenous Peoples Development Fund (Fondioc), a case that already includes numerous complaints and prosecutions of former officials. The arrest was confirmed by the former Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, who described the detention as an “illegal kidnapping” and denounced that Arce was transferred without prior notice to facilities of the Special Force to Fight Crime (FELCC). Meanwhile, the former leader's public image is seriously damaged. The Fondioc case represents a test of fire for Bolivia on its ability to seriously address demands for accountability and transparency after years of allegations of corruption in social programs. According to his statements, the former head of state offered no resistance. The case revolves around accusations that during his tenure as Minister of Economy — a position he held before assuming the presidency — he authorized state disbursements to personal accounts, allegedly in the name of former deputies and associates, for Fondioc projects that were never executed. Some sectors question the speed and rigor of the measure, while others see it as a clear signal that the new administration will not tolerate impunity. Arce could appear before justice in the coming hours, as FELCC authorities have reportedly initiated the formal procedures for preventive detention. Current President Rodrigo Paz had launched at least ten truth commissions at the beginning of December to review corruption attributed to the then-ruling party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), over 20 years. Among those charged is former deputy Lidia Patty, who admitted to having received state funds under Arce's orders. This new twist in the investigation represents one of the most sensitive chapters of the audits launched after the change of government in Bolivia. Sources consulted indicate that the complexity of the file — which involves tracking transfers, contracts, and responsibilities over decades — will require an exhaustive investigation. The arrest not only revives corruption allegations: it also tensions the demands for transparency, justice, and change of direction that motivated the political alternation. The detention of Arce could mark a before and after in the fight against impunity, although it also threatens to deepen polarization in a still fragile country. Among the reopened cases is precisely that of Fondioc. The Fondioc case has a dark past: a report from the Comptroller General's Office detected that more than 150 projects financed by the fund were never completed, despite having received million-dollar disbursements. La Paz, December 11, 2025 – Total News Agency-TNA – Former Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora was detained by police this Wednesday in the Sopocachi neighborhood of La Paz, as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of public funds destined for indigenous communities.
