Bolivian president Evo Morales has cultivated a close relationship with China since taking office in 2006, but many deals with Chinese firms are under scrutiny (image: Sebastien Baryli)
As Bolivians were preparing to go to the polls on February 21 to vote on a constitutional referendum that would have permitted President Evo Morales to run for a fourth term, a scandal was rocking the country. The affair with Gabriela Zapata not only raised questions about the President’s character, but was also a demonstration of the extent that Chinese companies have increased their presence in Bolivia—often engaging in less-than transparent procurement.
The basic details behind the scandal have been confirmed by the president himself. In 2007, or shortly before, the President had a relationship with Zapata which resulted in a child who died shortly after birth. Zapata went on obtain a law degree, and in 2013 was contracted by Chinese company CAMC Engineering, which won contracts worth an estimated US$580 million from the Bolivian state, of which, US$366 million was awarded after she was hired.
