President of Bolivia's Supreme Court of Justice flees to Spain citing political persecution and threat to life
Romer Saucedo left Bolivia with his family and reported threats from political authorities. Magistrate Rosmery Ruiz assumed the presidency of the court in an interim capacity.
Flight of Romer Saucedo: Bolivia's Supreme Court president abandons the country
The president of Bolivia's Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), Romer Saucedo, confirmed on Wednesday that he left the country with his family, alleging that his life and freedom are in danger. According to cuestionentrerriana.com.ar, Saucedo directly accused the political authorities of seeking absolute control of the judicial system. From judicial channels, however, sources indicated that the magistrate faces open proceedings and was ordered to make a formal appearance.
Through an extensive message published on his social media accounts, Saucedo justified his departure. "I have had to make the hardest decision of my life, but Bolivia stopped being a safe country. My freedom and the lives of my entire family are in danger. Legal guarantees have ended: the political authorities transformed justice once again into a revolving door that routinely uses preventive detention against those who do not agree with them, and does not hesitate to hire contract killers and silence people with death," the magistrate stated.
Saucedo also warned of an alleged offensive against other public figures. "They are building narratives based on lies and I know they are going to plant evidence to discredit me. But not only me: they will also do it with other emerging leaderships, regional and national figures, and after having discredited them on social media and in the press, they will deliver the final judicial blow. From abroad, I can be more useful than being in prison or dead," he said.
Despite his departure from the country, the magistrate ruled out submitting a formal resignation. "The Government already has an agreement with whoever is intended to serve as substitute. But I want to say something very clearly to them: I will not resign from the position that was given to me by the vote of the people of Santa Cruz!" he emphasised.
Ruiz assumes interim role and sets a six-day deadline
Following the vacancy created by Saucedo's departure, magistrate Rosmery Ruiz assumed the interim presidency of the TSJ in the afternoon. During a press conference, Ruiz warned that Saucedo has "six days to present himself and continue with his functions", and that if he does not do so, his permanent replacement by the designated substitute will be authorised.
The flight of the court's president comes weeks after former Attorney General Roger Mariaca was removed from office and placed under preventive detention for six months in October, accused of links to organised crime and drug trafficking. The measure was adopted one day after the United States revoked his visa.
The Minister of Government, Marco Antonio Oviedo, revealed that Saucedo maintained close ties with Mariaca and suggested that for that reason "he became nervous". Regarding the magistrate's exact whereabouts, Oviedo admitted: "we do not yet know", and indicated that he may have used an unauthorised clandestine crossing.
Reactions from Government and Public Ministry
Official spokesman José Luis Gálvez indicated that Saucedo's decision came as a surprise at the Palacio Quemado and added that "it is not known by the spokesman's office that any investigation was underway" regarding the magistrate.
President Rodrigo Paz, who was in Madrid participating in the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government—where he also met with Argentine president Javier Milei—characterised Saucedo's departure as a "regrettable but encouraging development for the future". Paz reiterated that former Attorney General Mariaca is being held in detention for heading a structure linked to drug trafficking. "If I do not give you a better justice system, I do not have a good democracy," the Bolivian president argued from the Spanish capital.
For his part, Attorney General José Armando Urioste detailed that Saucedo faces three open proceedings in the eastern jurisdiction of Santa Cruz, although he refrained from specifying the nature of the charges.
Context: 38 years old and in the final stretch of his term
Saucedo assumed the presidency of the Supreme Court of Justice in January 2025, at the age of 38. In his message, he directed criticism at former president Luis Arce (2020-2025) and reported a "systematic and gradual attack" attributed to the administration of Rodrigo Paz, based on what he characterised as deliberate falsehoods. He conditioned his possible return on the cessation of risk to the integrity of himself and his family.
The magistrate was in the final stretch of his term: in 2027 the formal transfer of the presidency of the court to judge Carlos Ortega is scheduled.
Source: Google News BO — Crime