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,[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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).[5]

List

Portrait	President (Birth–Death)	Term	Party		Form of entry Form of exit	Vice President
	Simón Bolívar (1783–1830)	6 August 1825 – 29 December 1825		Independent	Elected by the General Assembly. Resigned from office.	Office blank 1825–1828
	Antonio José de Sucre (1785–1830)	29 December 1825 – 18 April 1828		Independent	Elected by the Constituent Congress. Resigned from office.
From 18 April to 2 August 1828, the presidency was fullfilled by José María Pérez de Urdininea.
From 2 August to 18 December 1828, the presidency was fullfilled by José Miguel de Velasco Franco.
	Pedro Blanco Soto (1795–1829)	18 December 1828 – 1 January 1829		Independent	Elected by the Constituent Congress. Assassinated in office.	José Ramón de Loayza
From 1 January to 24 May 1829, the presidency was fullfilled by José Miguel de Velasco.
	Andrés de Santa Cruz (1792–1865)	24 May 1829 – 17 February 1839		Independent	Elected by the Constituent Congress. Protector of the Peru–Bolivian Confederation (1836–39) Resigned from office and fled Bolivia.	José Miguel de Velasco (Before 1835)
						Mariano Enrique Calvo (Since 1835)
	José Miguel de Velasco (1795–1859)	22 February 1839 – 10 June 1841		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Elected by the Constituent Congress. Resigned from office.	Office blank 1839–1880
	Sebastián Ágreda (1795–1875)	10 June 1841 – 9 July 1841		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Elected by the Constituent Congress. Resigned from office.
	Mariano Calvo (1782–1842)	9 July 1841 – 22 September 1841		Independent	Nominee by Sebastián Ágreda. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	José Ballivián (1805–1852)	27 September 1841 – 23 December 1847		Military	Installed by a coup d'état (1841). Elected by the Constituent Congress (1843). Resigned from office.
	Eusebio Guilarte (1805–1849)	23 December 1847 – 2 January 1848		Military	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	José Miguel de Velasco (1795–1859)	18 January 1848 – 6 December 1848		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	Manuel Isidoro Belzu (1808–1865)	6 December 1848 – 15 August 1855		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Resigned from office.
	Jorge Córdova (1822–1861)	15 August 1855 – 9 September 1857		Military	Elected by popular vote (1855). De facto governing with military's assistance. Declared deposed by Linaristas (9 September). Defeated by insurgents and fled (27 September).
	José María Linares (1808–1861)	9 September 1857 – 14 January 1861		Constitutional	Elected by the National Congress (Linaristas). Deposed by a coup d'état.
From 14 January to 4 May 1861, the presidency was fullfilled by a transitory triumvirate.
	José María de Achá (1810–1868)	4 May 1861 – 28 January 1864		Military	Installed by a coup d'état (1861). Elected by popular vote (1862). De facto governing with military's assistance. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	Mariano Melgarejo (1820–1871)	28 January 1864 – 15 January 1871		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	Agustín Morales (1808–1872)	15 January 1871 – 27 November 1872		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Assassinated in office.
	Tomás Frías Ametller (1804–1884)	27 November 1872 – 9 May 1873		Constitutional	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. End of the term.
	Adolfo Ballivián (1831–1874)	9 May 1873 – 31 January 1874		Constitutional	Elected by popular vote (1873). Died in office.
	Tomás Frías Ametller (1804–1884)	31 January 1874 – 4 May 1876		Constitutional	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. Deposed by a coup d'état.
	Hilarión Daza (1840–1894)	4 May 1876 – 28 December 1879		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Declared deposed during his absence (War of the Pacific)
From 28 December 1879 to 19 January 1880, the presidency was fullfilled by the presidential cabinet.
	Narciso Campero (1813–1896)	19 January 1880 – 4 September 1884		Liberal	Elected by the National Congress. End of the term.	Aniceto Arce (First Vice President)
						Belisario Salinas (Second Vice President)
	Gregorio Pacheco (1823–1899)	4 September 1884 – 15 August 1888		Democratic	Elected by popular vote (1884). End of the term.	Mariano Baptista (First Vice President)
						Jorge Oblitas (Second Vice President)
	Aniceto Arce (1824–1906)	15 August 1888 – 11 August 1892		Conservative	Elected by popular vote (1888). End of the term.	José Manuel del Carpio (First Vice President)
						Serapio Reyes Ortiz (Second Vice President)
	Mariano Baptista (1832–1907)	11 August 1892 – 19 August 1896		Conservative	Elected by popular vote (1892). End of the term.	Severo Fernández (First Vice President)
						Vacant (Second Vice President)
	Severo Fernández (1849–1925)	19 August 1896 – 12 April 1899		Conservative	Elected by popular vote (1896). Deposed by a civil war.	Rafael Peña de Flores (First Vice President)
						Jenaro Sanjinés (Second Vice President)
From 12 April to 25 October 1899, the presidency was fullfilled by a transitory triumvirate.
	José Manuel Pando (1849–1917)	25 October 1899 – 14 August 1904		Liberal	Installed after a civil war Elected by the National Congress. End of the term.	Lucio Pérez Velasco (First Vice President)
						Aníbal Capriles (Second Vice President)
	Ismael Montes (1861–1933)	14 August 1904 – 12 August 1909		Liberal	Elected by popular vote (1904). End of the term.	Eliodoro Villazón (First Vice President)
						Valentín Abecia (Second Vice President)
	Eliodoro Villazón (1848–1939)	12 August 1909 – 14 August 1913		Liberal	Elected by popular vote (1909). End of the term.	Macario Pinilla (First Vice President)
						Juan Misael Saracho (Second Vice President)
	Ismael Montes (1861–1933)	14 August 1913 – 15 August 1917		Liberal	Elected by popular vote (1913). End of the term.	Juan Misael Saracho (First Vice President)
						José Carrasco Torrico (Second Vice President)
	José Gutiérrez Guerra (1869–1929)	15 August 1917 – 12 July 1920		Liberal	Elected by popular vote (1917). Deposed by a coup d'état.	Ismael Vázquez Virreira (First Vice President)
						José Santos Quinteros (Second Vice President)
From 13 July 1920 to 28 January 1921, the presidency was fullfilled by a transitory triumvirate.
	Bautista Saavedra (1870–1939)	28 January 1921 – 3 September 1925		PRS	Installed by a coup d'état (1920). Elected by the National Congress (1921). Resigned from office.	Vacant
From 3 September 1925 to 10 January 1926, the presidency was fullfilled by the Senate President Felipe S. Guzmán.
	Hernando Siles (1882–1942)	10 January 1926 – 28 May 1930		PRS (Before 1927)	Elected by popular vote (December 1925). Resigned from office.	Abdón Saavedra
				PN (After 1927)
From 28 May 1930 to 5 March 1931, the presidency was fullfilled by the presidential cabinet (before 28 June 1930), then by General Carlos Blanco Galindo.
	Daniel Salamanca (1869–1935)	5 March 1931 – 1 December 1934		PRG	Elected by popular vote (1931). Resigned under military's threat.	José Luis Tejada
	José Luis Tejada (1882–1938)	1 December 1934 – 16 May 1936		PRG	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. Deposed by a coup d'état.	Vacant
From 16 to 22 May 1936, the presidency was fullfilled by Major Germán Busch.
	David Toro (1898–1977)	22 May 1936 – 13 July 1937		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Forced to resign from office.	Vacant
	Germán Busch (1904–1939)	13 July 1937 – 23 August 1939		Military	Succeeded to lead the military junta. Died in office.	Vacant (Before 1938)
						Enrique Baldivieso (Since 1938)
	Carlos Quintanilla (1888–1964)	23 August 1939 – 15 April 1940		Military	Succeeded to lead the military junta. Resigned from office.	Vacant
	Enrique Peñaranda (1892–1969)	15 April 1940 – 20 December 1943		Military	Elected by popular vote (1940). De facto governing with military's assistance. Deposed by a coup d'état.	Vacant
	Gualberto Villarroel (1908–1946)	20 December 1943 – 21 July 1946		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Assassinated in office.	Julián Montellano
From 21 July to 17 August 1946, the presidency was fullfilled by Attorney General Néstor Guillén.
From 17 August 1946 to 10 March 1947, the presidency was fullfilled by Supreme Court's Justice Tomás Monje.
	Enrique Hertzog (1897–1981)	10 March 1947 – 24 October 1949		PURS	Elected by popular vote (1947). Resigned from office.	Mamerto Urriolagoitía
	Mamerto Urriolagoitía (1895–1974)	24 October 1949 – 16 May 1951		PURS	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. End of the term.	Vacant
	Hugo Ballivián (1901–1993)	16 May 1951 – 11 April 1952		Military	Installed by Urriolagoitía's self-coup. Deposed by a popular sedition.	Vacant
	Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	15 April 1952 – 6 August 1956		MNR	Elected by popular vote (1951). Installed by popular sedition (1952). End of the term.	Hernán Siles
	Hernán Siles (1914–1996)	6 August 1956 – 6 August 1960		MNR	Elected by popular vote (1956). End of the term.	Ñuflo Chávez Ortiz
	Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	6 August 1960 – 4 November 1964		MNR	Elected by popular vote (1960). Successfully re-elected (1964). Deposed by a coup d'état	Juan Lechín Oquendo (Before 1964)
						René Barrientos (Since 1964)
	René Barrientos (1919–1969)	5 November 1964 – 27 April 1969		MPC	Installed by a coup d'état (1964). Elected by popular vote (1966). Died in office.	Alfredo Ovando Candía (Before 1966)
						Luis Adolfo Siles (Since 1966)
	Luis Adolfo Siles (1925–2005)	27 April 1969 – 26 September 1969		PSD	Succeeded to office according to Constitutional laws. Deposed by a coup d'état.	Vacant
	Alfredo Ovando Candía (1918–1982)	26 September 1969 – 6 October 1970		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Ousted from office by another coup attempt.	Vacant
From 6 to 7 October 1970, the presidency was fullfilled by a military triumvirate.
	Juan José Torres (1920–1976)	7 October 1970 – 21 August 1971		Military	Installed by a counter-coup. Deposed by another coup d'état.	Vacant
From 21 to 22 August 1971, the presidency was fullfilled by a military triumvirate.
	Hugo Banzer (1926–2002)	22 August 1971 – 21 July 1978		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Resigned due to large political dissent.	Vacant
On 21 July 1978, the presidency was fullfilled by the Chairman of the Military Junta Víctor González Fuentes.
	Juan Pereda (1931–2012)	21 July 1978 – 24 November 1978		Military	Elected by popular vote (1978). De facto governing with military's assistance. Deposed by a coup d'état.	Vacant
	David Padilla (1927–2016)	24 November 1978 – 8 August 1979		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Dismissed after his successor's election.	Vacant
	Wálter Guevara (1912–1996)	8 August 1979 – 1 November 1979		PRA	Elected by the National Congress (1979) Deposed by a coup d'état.	Vacant
	Alberto Natusch (1933–1994)	1 November 1979 – 16 November 1979		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Forced to resign under National Congress's pressure.	Vacant
From 16 November 1979 to 17 July 1980, the presidency was fullfilled by the Chamber President Lidia Gueiler Tejada.
From 17 to 18 July 1980, the presidency was fullfilled by a military triumvirate.
	Luis García Meza (1929–2018)	18 July 1980 – 4 August 1981		Military	Installed by a coup d'état. Deposed by another coup d'état.	Vacant
From 4 August to 4 September 1981, the presidency was fullfilled by a military triumvirate.
	Celso Torrelio (1933–1999)	4 September 1981 – 19 July 1982		Military	Selected by the military junta. Dismissed by military authorities.	Vacant
From 19 to 21 July 1982, the presidency was fullfilled by a military triumvirate.
	Guido Vildoso (1937–)	21 July 1982 – 10 October 1982		Military	Selected by the military junta. Dismissed after completing the transition to democracy.	Vacant
	Hernán Siles (1914–1996)	10 October 1982 – 6 August 1985		MNRI	Elected by popular vote (1980). Confirmed by the National Congress (1982) End of the term.	Jaime Paz Zamora
	Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1907–2001)	6 August 1985 – 6 August 1989		MNR	Elected by popular vote (1985). End of the term.	Julio Garrett Ayllón
	Jaime Paz Zamora (1939–)	6 August 1989 – 6 August 1993		MIR	Elected by popular vote (1989). End of the term.	Luis Ossio
	Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (1930–)	6 August 1993 – 6 August 1997		MNR	Elected by popular vote (1993). End of the term.	Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
	Hugo Banzer (1926–2002)	6 August 1997 – 7 August 2001		ADN	Elected by popular vote (1997). Resigned from office.	Jorge Quiroga
	Jorge Quiroga (1960–)	7 August 2001 – 6 August 2002		ADN	Succeeded to office according to Constitutional laws. End of the term.	Vacant
	Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (1930–)	6 August 2002 – 17 October 2003		MNR	Elected by popular vote (2002). Resigned from office.	Carlos Mesa
	Carlos Mesa (1953–)	17 October 2003 – 9 March 2005		MNR	Succeeded to office according to Constitutional laws. Resigned from office.	Vacant
	Eduardo Rodríguez (1956–)	9 March 2005 – 22 January 2006		Independent	Succeeded to office according Constitutional laws. End of the term.	Vacant
	Evo Morales (1959–)	22 January 2006 – 10 November 2019		MAS	Elected by popular vote (2005). Successfully re-elected (2009, 2014). Resigned from office.	Álvaro García Linera
From 10 to 12 November 2019, the office of President was vacant.
	Jeanine Áñez (1967–)[6][7]	12 November 2019 – Incumbent		MDS	Succeeded to office according to Constitutional laws.[8] Interim President	Vacant

Timeline

Living former presidents

As of 11 August 2020, there are seven 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
  
• 
  Evo Morales
  (2006–2019)
  (1959-10-26) October 26, 1959

See also

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

References

1. Notimérica, ed. (May 5, 2017). "La Revolución de Chuquisaca, 207 años del Primer Grito Libertario de América" (in Spanish).
2. Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes (ed.). "Doctrina del libertador/Simón Bolívar; prólogo Augusto Mijares; compilación, notas y cronología Manuel Pérez Vila" (in Spanish). Retrieved August 2, 2019.
3. Urgentebo, ed. (August 9, 2016). "La independencia de Bolivia y el Decreto de 9 de febrero de 1825" (in Spanish).
4. Quispe, Jorge (August 6, 2012). La Razón (ed.). "El 'país viable' que convenció a Bolívar" (in Spanish).
5. Notimérica, ed. (September 4, 2018). "¿Por qué Bolivia se llama Bolivia?" (in Spanish).
6. "La senadora Jeanine Áñez asumió la presidencia provisional de Bolivia tras la renuncia de Evo Morales" (in Spanish). Infobae. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
7. "El MAS reconoce la sucesión por renuncia y abandono de funciones de Evo y Álvaro". Pagina Siete. November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
8. https://tcpbolivia.bo/tcp/?q=content/comunicado-1