On 10 August 2026, we participated in one of the “Democracy Forums”, a joint initiative of the Ombudsman’s Office of Bolivia (Defensoría del Pueblo) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Bolivia (FES Bolivia). The Forum provided a space for analysis and dialogue on the political, economic and social implications of the proposed 50/50 fiscal transfers following the 2026 sub-national electoral cycle.
The Democracy Forums seek to promote informed and plural exchanges on issues affecting Bolivia’s democratic and institutional development, bringing together public institutions, experts and other stakeholders to examine challenges related to governance, political participation and social cohesion. In this context, the involvement of the Ombudsman’s Office reflects its broader mandate to protect and promote human rights and contribute to dialogue and peaceful conflict management, while FES Bolivia supports spaces for democratic debate and reflection on political, social and economic developments in the country.
Ombudsman Pedro Calisaya opened the event by highlighting the importance of dialogue and consensus-building as essential tools for constructing a culture of peace, particularly in regional and territorial electoral processes. His intervention underlined the need to strengthen mechanisms capable of addressing disagreements through democratic and institutional channels, especially during periods of political and administrative transition.
Representing ECES, Rafael Loayza presented a paper examining the government programmes emerging from the sub-national electoral cycle and their relationship with factors that can contribute to electoral conflict. The presentation explored how political commitments, public expectations and territorial dynamics can interact with electoral competition and potentially generate tensions, highlighting the importance of anticipating and addressing such risks throughout the electoral cycle.
Other experts participating in the Forum focused on the proposed transfers under the 50/50 fiscal framework and the challenges these could create for newly elected municipal and regional governments. Discussions considered the broader implications for decentralisation, territorial governance, the distribution of public resources and the capacity of sub-national authorities to respond effectively to citizens’ needs.
ECES’ participation in the Democracy Forum forms part of its broader engagement in Bolivia to support democratic governance, peaceful electoral processes and conflict prevention. By contributing its electoral expertise to exchanges of this kind, ECES supports dialogue among institutions and stakeholders and promotes approaches aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and fostering peaceful and inclusive political processes.
