David Choquehuanca

David Choquehuanca, born on May seventh, nineteen sixty-one, is a prominent Bolivian diplomat and politician known for his significant contributions to the country's political landscape. An ethnic Aymara, he hails from Cota Cota Baja and completed his secondary education in Huarina, where he embraced Marxist thought. His academic journey in philosophy took him to institutes in La Paz and Havana, ultimately leading him to join the indigenous peasant labor movement, where he formed a crucial alliance with cocalero activist Evo Morales, co-founding the Movement for Socialism.

Choquehuanca's political career began to flourish in the late nineteen nineties and early two thousands as he served as a key advisor to indigenous organizations and peasant leaders, including Morales. He was the national coordinator of the Nina Program, an NGO focused on training activist leaders. In two thousand six, Morales appointed him as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, a role he held for over a decade, marking the longest tenure of any foreign minister in Bolivian history.

During his time as foreign minister, Choquehuanca played a pivotal role in reshaping Bolivia's international relations, overseeing a break with the United States and enhancing ties with left-wing neighbors. He also led the historic lawsuit against Chile at The Hague, although he was not in office when the court ruled against Bolivia in two thousand eighteen. His position within the Morales administration positioned him as a significant figure, often seen as a potential presidential successor, which eventually led to his removal in two thousand seventeen.

After Morales' ousting in two thousand nineteen, Choquehuanca was nominated by allied social organizations as the presidential candidate for the rerun elections in two thousand twenty. However, Morales chose Luis Arce as the party's candidate, leaving Choquehuanca as the running mate. In November two thousand twenty, he was elected vice president with fifty-five percent of the vote, becoming Bolivia's second indigenous vice president, following Víctor Hugo Cárdenas.