LA PAZ, BOLIVIA — Bolivia’s Chamber of Deputies declared Roberto Castro its president for 2026–27 late Friday in a chaotic session, with no vote count announced. Opposition deputies, including a faction of the Libre alliance, say no vote was held and have announced they will challenge the result. The dispute comes to a chamber where no party holds a clear majority, which could slow the government’s economic agenda.

The session, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on October 30, began nearly an hour late. Castro, of President Rodrigo Paz’s Christian Democratic Party (PDC), called a recess until 5:30 p.m., and the session resumed around 9:30 p.m. amid confusion.

As a Libre deputy began reading the majority slate, up to a dozen people crowded the speaker’s stand and a scuffled ensued as a secretary finished reading the names from the presiding table.

Castro then declared the new board formed for 2026–27 and said it would be sworn in on November 5. He adjourned the session. Reports of the session describe no clear moment when a vote was called, and the chamber’s broadcast showed no vote.

A PDC deputy, Manolo Rojas, said the slate passed by show of hands with more than two-thirds in favor, but he said he had no exact count.

The board includes Castro as president, with seven posts split among the PDC, the Libre alliance and the Unidad alliance. Libre holds three of the seven posts, which makes the dispute an internal fight as well as a government-versus-opposition one.

The Objections

Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, a former president, Libre leader and recently defeated presidential candidate, called the session a “madurada,” a reference to Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. He said Castro took the post without a vote and with support from “tránsfugas” (turncoats), and demanded the chamber rectify the session this week. His criticism is tied to a rift inside Libre, where Castro recognizes a rival caucus led by Rafael López.

Deputies from four blocs, including Libre and the PDC, say they do not recognize the result and plan legal and parliamentary challenges. Another deputy, Ricardo Rada, who wanted to run for the post, asked who counted the votes and demanded a new election.

Earlier in October, PDC deputy Sandra Rivero accused Castro of using travel money and staff to buy support. Castro has not been reported responding to the accusations.

The chamber president runs sessions, sets the agenda and sends bills to committees. The 130-seat chamber has no majority party. The PDC is the largest group, with 49 seats, so Paz needs cross-bloc deals for his legislation, including the 2027 budget.

Bolivia is in its worst economic crisis in about four decades, and a leadership that opponents call illegitimate could mean delays and court challenges.

No court filing had been reported as of Sunday, and it is unclear whether any body can overturn the result.