Plácida Espinoza

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Espinoza and the second or maternal family name is Mamani.

Plácida Espinoza
Official portrait, 2018
Senator for Oruro
In office 18 January 2015 – 3 November 2020
Substitute	Marcelino Arancibia
Preceded by	Mario Choque
Succeeded by	Vania Rocha
Personal details
Born	Plácida Espinoza Mamani (1948-10-05) 5 October 1948 (age 76) Chachacomani, Oruro, Bolivia
Political party	Movement for Socialism
Alma mater	Marshal Sucre Normal School [es]
Occupation	Educator politician trade unionist
Signature

Plácida Espinoza Mamani (born 5 October 1948) is a Bolivian educator, politician, and trade unionist who served as senator for Oruro from 2015 to 2020.

Born into a rural indigenous community in central Oruro's Carangas Province, Espinoza began her professional career in the field of education, working as a schoolteacher and administrator and serving on her local school board. During this time, she began participating in her region's trade syndicates, holding positions within regular workers' unions before joining the women-specific Bartolina Sisa Federation.

An ethnic Aymara, Espinoza started taking up positions of traditional authority at a time when such posts began regaining their importance within native society. Through her marriage with a local indigenous leader, she assumed titles of local and regional importance, be it in the ayllu, the marka, or the suyu. This, coupled with her union roles, opened the door to politics, given the organic alliance formed between indigenous, peasant, and syndical organizations with the powerful Movement for Socialism. In 2014, Espinoza was elected as a senator for the party.

Early life and career

Early life and education

Plácida Espinoza was born on 5 October 1948 in Chachacomani, a minor hamlet nestled in the northern Altiplano Plateau of central Oruro.[1] The town, according to Aymara indigenous custom, is situated in the Mallcunaca Ayllu, a subdivision of the Corque Marka in the Jach'a Karangas Suyu—a region roughly corresponding to the borders of Oruro's Carangas Province.[2][α]

Although raised in rural poverty at a time of particular social exclusion for women, Espinoza nonetheless managed to attain an education and prospered academically.[4] She completed her primary schooling and initiated secondary at the Aniceto Arce and José Trifiro schools in the town of Corque before then moving to Oruro, where she attended the Marcos Beltrán Ávila Educational Unit, finally finishing out her secondary studies at the Antofagasta Lyceum. After that, Espinoza moved to Sucre, where she graduated as a teacher from the Marshal Sucre Normal School [es]. In addition, she holds a postgraduate degree in education from the Higher Institute of Rural Education and completed specialization courses in media coverage at the Bolivian Catholic University's rural education affiliate [es] in Tiwanaku.[5]

Returning to Corque, Espinoza worked as a professor at her former primary school, Aniceto Arce, an institute she later came to direct; she would also go on to teach at the Children of the Sun Educational Unit in Oruro. Espinoza's work in education opened paths for a career in civil service; she took jobs as a municipal agent and held a seat on her local school board,[2] later serving as president of the Aymara Educational Council of La Paz in the early 2000s.[5]

Unionism and indigenous leadership

Commemorating the José Trifiro Educational Unit in Corque

Nearing the turn of the century, Espinoza began playing an active role in her region's trade syndicates, which had increasingly begun promoting the entry of women and the peasantry into their ranks.[6] She served as secretary of indigenous peoples within the Unified Syndical Federation of Rural Workers of Oruro from 1992 to 1994, simultaneously holding a seat on the directorate of the Carangas Provincial Workers' Center between 1993 and 1994.[5] Later, she joined the Bartolina Sisa Peasant Women's Federation, where she served as secretary of international relations.[6] In 2010, Espinoza founded her own branch of the organization in the Ravelo Municipality of Chayanta, during which time she held a seat and the vice presidency of the Constituent Assembly charged with drafting the locality's organic charter.[2]

During this time, Espinoza also assumed positions of traditional authority within her Aymara community, reflecting the revaluation of indigenous customs that had begun taking place around this period.[6] By 1984, she had reached the position of assistant corregidor,[5] serving as an aid to the most important political leader within the ayllus.[7] Her highest positions, however, were inherited through her marriage with Luciano Álvarez Galvan, a local traditional leader.[8][9] Espinoza followed Álvarez's rise through the ranks of Aymara leadership, starting out with the title of mama awatiri of the Mallcunaca Ayllu[2] before much later becoming mama t'alla of the Corque Marka between 2012 and 2013 and, finally, apu mama t'alla of the Jach'a Karangas Suyu from 2013 to 2015—titles denoting the maximum female indigenous authority within each respective polity.[5][β]

Chamber of Senators

Election

Further information: 2014 Bolivian general election

By 2014, Espinoza had been active in promoting self-government for Corque through its conversion from a municipality into an indigenous autonomy [es].[10] The established alliance between indigenous and peasant advocacy groups with the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) provided an opening for her to contest public office in that year's general election.[6] She was nominated for a seat in the Chamber of Senators, a position she won despite her less advantageous placement at the bottom of the party's electoral list, a product of the MAS's sweep over nearly the entirety of Oruro's parliamentary delegation that cycle.[11][12]

Tenure

Sworn in at the beginning of 2015,[13] Espinoza joined other newly inaugurated female legislators in composing the largest caucus of peasant and indigenous women ever elected in Bolivian history.[14] In a legislature noted for its historic number of young people,[15] Espinoza stood out as one of the body's seniormost members, one of just a handful born before the National Revolution of 1952.[6] Her tenure focused mainly on the rights of indigenous peoples, be it through the procurement of their political autonomy,[16] preservation of their cultural artifacts,[17] or promotion of historical traditions and folklore.[18] At the end of her term, Espinoza was not nominated for reelection,[19][20] reflecting the MAS's general disinterest in developing long political careers for the party's elected legislators in favor of promoting the incorporation of new faces in parliament.[21]

Commission assignments

Swearing into the Senate Ethics Commission

• State Security, Armed Forces, and Bolivian Police Commission (President: 2019–2020)[22]
  • State Security and Fight Against Drug Trafficking Committee (Secretary: 2019)[23]
• Territorial Organization of the State and Autonomies Commission
  • Departmental Autonomies Committee (Secretary: 2017–2018)[24]
• Plural Economy, Production, Industry, and Industrialization Commission (President: 2020)[25]
• Rural Native Indigenous Peoples and Nations and Interculturality Commission
  • Rural Native Indigenous Peoples and Nations Committee (Secretary: 2015–2016)[26]
• International Policy Commission
  • International Economic Relations Committee (Secretary: 2018–2019)[27]
• Land and Territory, Natural Resources, and Environment Commission (President: 2016–2017)[28]
• Ethics and Transparency Commission (2016–2017)[29]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Plácida Espinoza

Year	Office	Party		Votes			Result	Ref.
				Total	%	P.
2014	Senator		Movement for Socialism	166,360	66.42%	1st	Won	[30][γ]
Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ | Electoral Atlas

Publications

• Espinoza Mamani, Plácida (2003). Proceso Hstórico de la Educación Boliviana: Interculturalidad, Identidad, Cultura (in Spanish). La Paz: CEA.

References

Notes

1. Per indigenous custom, the Aymara realm (Qullasuyu) is divided between suyus (provinces) made up of markas (regions), agglomerations of multiple autonomous ayllus, the collective landholdings of the Aymara.[3]
2. Aymara tradition adheres to the concept of chacha-warmi [es]—joint male-female leadership through marital union. In other words, the authority of the tata mallku is complemented by that of the mama t'alla.[10]
3. Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.

Footnotes

1. Romero Ballivián 2018, p. 209.
2. La Cámara 2016, p. 21.
3. Weinberg, Bill (2 September 2010). "Beyond Extraction: An Interview With Rafael Quispe". NACLA Report on the Americas. New York City: Routledge for the North American Congress on Latin America. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
4. Romero Ballivián 2018, pp. 209–210.
5. "Plácida Espinoza Mamani". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
6. Romero Ballivián 2018, p. 210.
7. Guzman Boutier 2011, p. 215.
8. "Ofrenda de una mesa dulce fue el principal ritual interreligioso" [A sweet table offering was the main interreligious ritual]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 11 February 2014. p. 4. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
9. Mayta, Favio (13 June 2014). "Se inauguró escuela de capacitación y formación en Jach'a Karangas" [Training school was inaugurated in Jach'a Karangas]. cipca.org (in Spanish). La Paz: Peasant Research and Promotion Center. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
10. "Mujeres en la construcción de la autonomía indígena originaria de Corque Marka" [Women in the construction of the native indigenous autonomy of Corque Marka]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 10 July 2016. p. 3. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
11. "Candidatos a diputados y senadores por Oruro" [Candidates for Chamber of Deputies in Senate in Oruro]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 16 July 2014. p. 5. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
12. "MAS tendrá supremacía en la brigada parlamentaria" [MAS will hold supremacy in the parliamentary delegation]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 20 December 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
13. Condori, Betty (18 January 2015). "Parlamentarios electos juran a sus cargos para la nueva legislatura" [Parliamentarians-elect are sworn into the new legislature]. Opinión (in Spanish). Cochabamba. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
14. Romero Ballivián 2018, pp. 210, 373.
15. Written at La Paz. "El parlamento más joven en la historia de Bolivia: Nuevos legisladores alcanzan 42 años en promedio de edad" [The youngest parliament in the history of Bolivia: New legislators reach 42 years on average]. El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023 – via eju!.
16. "Autoridades comprometen apoyo a proceso autonómico de Corque" [Authorities commit to supporting Corque's autonomous process]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 14 June 2015. p. 5. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
17. "Pretenden preservar y catalogar símbolos de los pueblos indígenas" [Bill intends to preserve and catalog symbols of indigenous peoples]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 1 December 2015. p. 4. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
18. "Tinkus Tolkas recibió reconocimiento por 37 años siendo parte del Carnaval" [Tinkus Tolkas received recognition for 37 years as part of Carnival]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. 28 August 2018. p. 7. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
19. "Lista Final de Candidaturas Habilitadas de las Organizaciones Políticas y Alianzas: Movimiento al Socialismo" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
20. "Lista Final de Candidaturas Habilitadas de las Organizaciones Políticas y Alianzas: Movimiento al Socialismo" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
21. Romero Ballivián 2018, pp. 564, 598.
22. Chamber of Senators [@SenadoBolivia] (20 November 2019). "La Cámara de Senadores modificó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Twitter.
23. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
24. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2017–2018". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 31 January 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
25. Chamber of Senators [@SenadoBolivia] (29 January 2020). "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Twitter.
    • Chamber of Senators [@SenadoBolivia] (10 June 2020). "La Cámara de Senadores modificó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2023 – via Twitter.
26. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2015–2016". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
27. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2018–2019". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
28. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2016–2017". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
29. "La Cámara de Senadores conformó su Comisión de Ética y Transparencia: Gestión Legislativa 2016–2017". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Chamber of Senators. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
30. "Elecciones Generales 2014 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

Bibliography

• Cámara de Senadores (2016). "La Cámara: Revista Informativa del Senado Plurinacional" (in Spanish). No. 4. La Paz. p. 21. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022 – via DocPlayer. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
• Guzman Boutier, Omar Qamasa (2011). "Apuntes Acerca del Sistema de Cargos en los Ayllus Bolivianos". Temas Sociales (in Spanish) (31). La Paz: 201–241. ISSN 0040-2915.
• Romero Ballivián, Salvador (2018). Quiroga Velasco, Camilo Sergio (ed.). Diccionario Biográfico de Parlamentarios 1979–2019 (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). La Paz: Fundación de Apoyo al Parlamento y la Participación Ciudadana; Fundación Konrad Adenauer. pp. 209–210. ISBN 978-99974-0-021-5. OCLC 1050945993 – via ResearchGate.

External links

• Parliamentary profile Office of the Vice President (in Spanish).
• Parliamentary profile Chamber of Senators (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 November 2019.

Senate of Bolivia
Preceded by Mario Choque	Senator for Oruro 2015–2020 Served alongside: Rubén Medinaceli, Lineth Guzmán, Pedro Montes	Succeeded by Vania Rocha