René Joaquino Cabrera is a

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

and the founder the Social Alliance political party. Joaquino was born on February 27, 1966, in the community of Asientos, part of Chicoca Chica

ayllu The ''ayllu'', a family clan, is the traditional form of a community in the Andes, especially among Quechuas and Aymaras. They are an indigenous local government model across the Andes region of South America, particularly in Bolivia and Peru. ...

and within the canton of Tomave, Antonio Quijarro Province,

Potosí Department Potosí (; Aymara: ''Putusi''; qu, P'utuqsi) is a department in southwestern Bolivia. It comprises 118,218 km2 with 823,517 inhabitants (2012 census). The capital is the city of Potosí. It is mostly a barren, mountainous region with one ...

. He was twice elected mayor of the city of

Potosí Potosí, known as Villa Imperial de Potosí in the colonial period, is the capital city and a municipality of the Department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world at a nominal . For centuries, it was the location o ...

, in 2004 and 2010, but was suspended from that office on August 18, 2010. He resumed his duties on February 7, 2013. Joaquino was the city's first indigenous mayor. In the run up to the 2014 national elections, Joaquino reconciled with the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party and became their candidate for Potosí's first seat in the Senate of the

Plurinational Legislative Assembly The Plurinational Legislative Assembly ( es, Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional) is the national legislature of Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yell ...

. He was elected to that office on October 12, 2014, and will serve as Senator from 2015 to 2020. Joaquino's suspension as mayor was legally required due to his indictment for the municipality's illegal purchase of used vehicles in 2006. His conviction on these charges was reversed by Bolivia's Supreme Court of Justice on December 12, 2012, but he continued to face two additional criminal investigations. Joaquino was finally acquitted in the matter in December 2013. Joaquino held the Movement Towards Socialism, which has governed at the national level since 2006, responsible for his prosecution, blaming it in 2010 for "harsh and impious" acts against him. In 2014, however, he reached an accord with the MAS to serve as its first candidate for Senator from Potosí. Per the legal requirement, Joaquino stepped down from his post as mayor to be a candidate for senator. On October 12, the MAS won 69.49% of the vote in Potosí, entitling it to three of the department's four senators.Tribunal Supremo Electoral. “Potosí,” 2014

Joaquino was sworn into office on January 18, 2015, and will serve through 2021.

References

Living people 1966 births 21st-century Bolivian politicians Mayors of places in Bolivia Social Alliance politicians People from Antonio Quijarro Province {{Bolivia-mayor-stub