Luis Fernando Camacho facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luis Fernando Camacho
Camacho at his gubernatorial inauguration
2nd Governor of Santa Cruz
Suspended from 25 January 2024
In office 3 May 2021 – 26 January 2024
Vice Governor	Mario Aguilera Cirbián
Preceded by	Rubén Costas
Succeeded by	Mario Aguilera Cirbián (Acting)
President of the Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee
In office 2 February 2019 – 29 November 2019
Preceded by	Fernando Cuéllar [es]
Succeeded by	Rómulo Calvo [es]
Personal details
Born	Luis Fernando Camacho Vaca (1979-02-15) 15 February 1979 (age 46) Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
Political party	Creemos
Other political affiliations	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Relatives	Eliodoro Camacho
Alma mater	Private University of Santa Cruz University of Barcelona
Occupation	Businessman lawyer politician
Signature

Luis Fernando Camacho Vaca (born 15 February 1979) is a Bolivian activist, businessman, lawyer, and politician. He currently serves as the second governor of Santa Cruz since 2021. He leads the political group Creemos, which is an opposition group in Bolivia's parliament, the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. In 2019, he was also the head of the Santa Cruz Civic Committee.

Camacho became well-known as a strong critic of former President Evo Morales. He played an important role during the 2019 Bolivian general election, which was very controversial. He asked Morales to step down from power. After Morales resigned, Camacho decided to enter politics. He ran for president in the 2020 Bolivian general election with his party, Creemos. He received 14% of the votes. In the 2021 Bolivian regional elections, he was elected Governor of Santa Cruz and started his term on May 3, 2021.

Luis Fernando Camacho is seen as a major leader of the opposition in Bolivia.

Early Life and Education

Luis Fernando Camacho was born on February 15, 1979, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a city in Bolivia. His family has roots from the La Paz region of Bolivia.

He studied law at the Private University of Santa Cruz (UPSA). He earned degrees in international business contracts and corporate law. He also completed another master's degree in finance and tax law at the University of Barcelona in Spain. After returning to Bolivia, Camacho taught law at the UPSA for many years.

Business Career

From 2009 to 2015, Camacho worked as a legal advisor and owned shares in Nacional Seguros, a Bolivian insurance company. His family and the family of another businessman and politician, Branko Marinkovic, both have shares in this company.

Camacho also owns a law firm called Corporación Jurídica.

Political Journey

In 2002, Luis Fernando Camacho joined the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, a political party. From 2002 to 2004, he was the vice-president of the Santa Cruz Youth Union, a group focused on activism.

After a break, he became the second vice-president of the Provincial Civic Committees of the Cruceñidad in 2013, a role he held until 2015. In February 2019, Camacho was elected President of the Civic Committee of Santa Cruz. He took over from Fernando Cuéllar Núnez.

2019 Protests

During the 2019 Bolivian protests in November 2019, Camacho became a key leader of the opposition in the Santa Cruz region. These protests happened because of concerns about the 2019 Bolivian general election. Camacho encouraged security forces to join the protests against then-President Evo Morales. He became a prominent figure in the anti-government movement.

After President Evo Morales left the capital, Camacho went to the old Government Palace. He placed a Bible and a symbolic letter there, which represented Morales's resignation. Camacho said he came "with my faith and my hope; with a Bible in my right hand and his letter of resignation in my left hand."

After the Protests: Añez's Time and Elections

After the political situation settled, Camacho formed a political group called Creemos. He announced he would run for president in the 2020 Bolivian general election. He teamed up with Marco Pumari as his running mate. Camacho received 14% of the votes across Bolivia. He won only in his home region of Santa Cruz.

This result helped him in the 2021 Bolivian regional elections. With support from the previous governor, Rubén Costas, Camacho and his running mate, Mario Aguilera, won the governorship of Santa Cruz. They received 55.64% of the votes in the first round.

Political Beliefs

In Bolivia, Luis Fernando Camacho is known as a conservative Catholic figure. He is recognized for his strong opposition to the left-wing government of former President Evo Morales. Many people consider Camacho to be on the right side of the political spectrum. Some have even compared him to other conservative leaders.

His Detention and Public Reaction

Apprehension

On December 28, 2022, Camacho was taken into custody by the Bolivian Police outside his home. He was then transferred to Viru Viru International Airport and later taken to La Paz. According to his assistant, their car was stopped by police vans. She stated that officers took him from the car without showing a warrant. Videos shared by local news showed Camacho handcuffed by the road with broken car windows.

Reactions

Some people showed support for Camacho's detention.

After Camacho's detention, the Prosecutor's Office announced that it was part of an investigation into the events that led to Morales leaving power in 2019. They stated it was a legal decision, not a political one. However, many opposition leaders strongly criticized the action. Former president Carlos Mesa called it "violent and illegal." The mayor of La Paz, Iván Arias, said it was "a way to pour hatred and revenge."

Protests and Strikes

Within hours of Camacho's apprehension, protests began in Santa Cruz. Demonstrators blocked roads and streets. At Viru Viru International Airport, protesters tried to stop his transfer, causing flights to be canceled. News outlets described it as a "night of fury," with some buildings set on fire by vandals.

The Pro-Santa Cruz Civic Committee held an emergency meeting. They decided to hold a twenty-four-hour strike the next day. This strike included closing border crossings to prevent similar events. The strike in Santa Cruz was mostly peaceful until clashes occurred between protesters and police near the Cristo Redentor monument. Protesters burned tires, and police used tear gas.

What Happened Next

Mario Aguilera, the vice-governor, stated that Camacho was still the governor. He explained that only resignation, death, or a final court decision could change this. The government, however, suggested that Aguilera should take over as acting governor due to Camacho's temporary absence. Camacho's team said he could continue his duties from prison. They even planned to have a "branch of the Governor's Office" there. Members of his cabinet visited him in La Paz to discuss policy matters.

Incarceration

Law enforcement personnel transfer Camacho to police headquarters.

Camacho's location was unknown for several hours after his arrest. He eventually landed at El Alto International Airport and was taken to police headquarters in La Paz. When he appeared before the Prosecutor's Office, he did not give a statement about the case. Instead, he used the opportunity to deliver a public message, saying he was "proud... to have been part of the biggest fight in the history of Bolivia for freedom and democracy."

A judge later ruled that Camacho was likely involved in the alleged events of 2019. The judge ordered him to be held for four months in Chonchocoro maximum security prison. Soon after being imprisoned, Camacho began to experience serious health problems. His family and lawyers asked for him to be moved to a hospital, but prison staff did not allow it. They denied claims that he was not receiving medical care inside the prison. Although his health improved slightly later, Camacho stated that President Arce would be to blame if anything happened to him.

On August 16, 2023, Camacho had medical checks to see if he needed to be transferred to a hospital. On August 31, the doctors decided he could stay in prison with an improved treatment plan for his high blood pressure.

Electoral History

Images for kids

• 

  Some people showed support for Camacho's detention.

• 

  Law enforcement personnel transfer Camacho to police headquarters.

See also

In Spanish: Luis Fernando Camacho para niños