[{"bbox": [96, 120, 1134, 332], "category": "Text", "text": "Country score according to the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) is 6.17 out of 10 (ranked 45 out of 137). This composite index corresponds to low moderate scores on Rule of Law adherence and stability of democratic institutions. Citizen's confidence in national institutions has been historically low in Bolivia, according to several studies (Latinobarómetro, Vanderbilt University LAPOP, World Values Surveys). More recent measurements¹ show that the average level of trust towards institutional actors does not exceed 20%; the institutions with the highest trust are the EMB (32% but currently at risk because of political and institutional changes), the national government (32% trust); at the other end, the institutions facing higher mistrust are the Judiciary (7% trust) and the Bolivian Police (15%)."}, {"bbox": [96, 343, 1134, 479], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU has played a significant role in accompanying the post-crisis process to reinstate democratic stability and the Rule of Law, as a prerequisite to enhance citizen's confidence in the institutional order. The present Action intends to uphold and reinforce this role with a specific focus on democratic and institutional strengthening. It will be achieved through two specific objectives, one focused on enhancing the electoral system and participatory democracy, and a second one aimed at reinforcing the fight against corruption in the Bolivian Police."}, {"bbox": [96, 489, 1134, 623], "category": "Text", "text": "The first specific objective intends to continue supporting the electoral system in Bolivia. The annulation of the 2019 elections was the main trigger of a major political and institutional crisis in Bolivia, only stabilised after the 2020 and 2021 successful elections. These electoral processes were the result of complex negotiations between political forces disputing power, which concluded with a fragile political agreement supported by the EU, the UN and other members of the international community."}, {"bbox": [96, 634, 1134, 1087], "category": "Text", "text": "Through this Action, the EU will continue providing technical assistance to the Electoral Management Body (EMB) in Bolivia. The electoral legal framework, which derives primarily from the 2009 Bolivian Constitution, the 2010 Electoral and Plurinational Electoral Body Laws and the 2018 Law on Political Organisations, provides a sufficient basis for the conduct of democratic and competitive elections. However, there is a need of adjusting and homogenising the regulations developing these laws and reinforcing its implementation. The EMB, comprised of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and nine Departmental Electoral Tribunals (TEDs), had in 2019 more than a decade's record of successful elections and had advanced in consolidating institutional capacities, with support of Spain, Sweden and the EU, amongst others. However, towards the general elections of 2019, the EMB suffered a progressive erosion of independence, technical capacities, and specialised human resources -due to the resignation of several electoral judges and specialised staff-, and a general loss of credibility. This process culminated in the elections of 2019, as a result of political negotiations. The EMB arrived to the 2020 elections in unfavourable conditions derived from its complete institutional restructuring, loss of equipment and specialised staff, apart from a re-composition reliant on fragile political agreements, and an electoral climate dominated by social and political polarisation. Despite the challenging situation, and also thanks to international support by the EU and other partners (UNDP, SE, CAN, UK), the 2020 electoral process was deemed credible and successful, as confirmed by a number of international and national observation exercises, including the 2020 EU Electoral Expert Mission; granting a much-needed legitimacy to a new Government and Legislative."}, {"bbox": [96, 1097, 1134, 1392], "category": "Text", "text": "This Action intends to continue supporting the EMB in the inter-electoral period (January 2023 – December 2024) that allows for structural institutional reforms beyond the urgency of elections, on the basis of the OEP Strategic Institutional Plan (2021-2025). It also gives a step further by completing institutional reinforcement to the EMB with a component in support of democratic participation of civil society², with a specific focus on women and youth organisations, both as electoral observers and public outreach actors. Further support for the electoral processes of 2025 will be assessed in due time under AAP 2024, on the basis of the political and institutional context. The Action builds on previous successful EU electoral support in Bolivia, provided between 2018 and 2021 through IDEA International (2018-2021) and UNDP (2020-2021). The Action will also contribute to the implementation of the recommendations of the two EEM deployed by the EU in 2019 and 2020. Finally, through this intervention, the EU will continue to work in close partnership with other MS (SE, ES, DE), placing the EU and its Member States as the reference partner in supporting democracy and a peace culture."}, {"bbox": [85, 1467, 1144, 1557], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹ Data were obtained through two studies conducted by UN in 2021: i) Sociopolitical Flash Survey. Public opinion survey carried out by UN in 2021 with a sample of 1000 interviewees across the 9 country departments, incl. urban and rural scope (representativeness of 95% for a margin of error of +/- 3%) and ii) Socio-political opinion survey conducted by UN (house-hold based, sample of 2500 interviewees distributed nationally-urban and rural, with a representativeness of 95% and a margin of error of +/- 1.96%)."}, {"bbox": [85, 1565, 1144, 1632], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² Including women's organisations and organisations representing groups with specific needs and interests (PLWD, LGBTI persons, and indigenous peoples, among others). This component in support of civil society, corresponding to Output 2.1, will have a minimum amount of EUR 400,000."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1680, 1144, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 25"}]