Carolina Ribera

Bolivian Presidential Representative in the Social Support and Management Unit (2019–2020)

Carolina Ribera


Presidential Representative in the Social Support and Management Unit
Honorary
In office 24 December 2019 – 8 November 2020
President	Jeanine Áñez
Minister	Yerko Núñez
Preceded by	Virginia Velasco
Succeeded by	Rolando Quisbert

Personal details
Born	Carolina Ribera Áñez (1990-05-01) 1 May 1990 (age 33) Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia
Political party	Social Democratic Movement (2013–2020)
Parent(s)	Tadeo Ribera Jeanine Áñez
Alma mater	University of Saint Francis Xavier José Ballivián Autonomous University of Beni Higher University of San Simón
Occupation	Dentist

Carolina Ribera Áñez (born 1 May 1990) is a Bolivian dentist who served as the presidential representative in the Social Support and Management Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency from 2019 to 2020 under Jeanine Áñez. Ribera is the eldest daughter of former president Jeanine Áñez and former Trinidad mayor Tadeo Ribera. Ribera protests Áñez's incarceration on various criminal charges in 2021, denouncing alleged violations of her mother's human and legal rights.

Early life and career

Carolina Ribera was born on 1 May 1990^[1] to Tadeo Ribera and Jeanine Áñez. Ribera was raised in the field of politics; her father, Tadeo, served as mayor of their home city of Trinidad, capital of the Beni Department, from 1996 to 1999.^[2]^[3] However, it was through her mother, Jeanine Áñez, that Ribera gained an interest in politics. When Áñez was elected as a constituent in the Bolivian Constituent Assembly, Ribera moved with her mother to Sucre, where she initially chose to study dentistry at the University of Saint Francis Xavier, later returning to Trinidad to practice her career. As Áñez's political career continued, however, Ribera changed interests and began studying law at the José Ballivián Autonomous University of Beni.^[2]

Seeking to begin a political career of her own, Ribera attended the Higher University of San Simón in Cochabamba, where she graduated with a diploma in gender and political science. Additionally, through the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Ribera received political training in Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay, among other countries, and in various Bolivian institutions with which she worked. When Áñez sought reelection as a senator as a member of the Social Democratic Movement (MDS), Ribera became a leader in the party's youth wing. During this time, she supported her mother in raising awareness through various social campaigns relating to gender and health, specifically covering women's rights and oral hygiene for peri-urban youth in Beni. During the 2016 constitutional referendum, Ribera participated in the civic mobilization that succeeded in achieving the rejection of the abolishment of term limits.^[4] Her initial intent was to seek a seat on the Trinidad Municipal Council before then moving to national politics.^[2]

Government career

After the ouster of President Evo Morales due to allegations of electoral fraud in his bid for a fourth term, Áñez assumed the presidency of the State through constitutional succession. Ribera accompanied her mother in moving to La Paz, serving as a de facto assistant to the president in the early days of her administration.^[2] On 24 December 2019, Áñez appointed Ribera as the presidential representative in the Social Support and Management Unit, a branch of the Ministry of the Presidency. Seeking to avoid allegations of nepotism, the government assured that Ribera's position was solely honorary, meaning she did not receive remuneration for her service. Her work focused on the coordination and development of plans, programs, projects, and activities aimed at bringing aid to individuals in vulnerable economic or social situations.^[5]^[6]

Campaign to release Jeanine Áñez

Ribera's public profile increased in the wake of the arrest of Áñez on charges relating to a coup d'état that she is alleged to have committed in 2019 and ordering Sacaba massacre and Senkata massacre. During the duration of Áñez's incarceration, Ribera was a vocal proponent of her mother's right to due process and adequate medical treatment.^[7] During this time, she led multiple vigils and protests in support of Áñez and called on the international community to denounce political persecution and the violation of judicial independence and human rights.^[8]^[9]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carolina Ribera.

^ "Áñez a su hija en su cumpleaños: 'Te pido perdón por hacerte pasar momentos tan difíciles'". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 May 2022. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Carolina Ribera Áñez, la primera hija". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 25 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ Temo Noe, Yoni. "Alcaldes Municipales de la ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad". trinidad.gob.bo (in Spanish). Trinidad. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
^ Gutiérrez, Ricardo (18 December 2019). "Carolina, hija de la Presidenta, tras los pasos de su madre". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ "Gobierno confirma que hija de Añez dirigirá la Unidad de Gestión Social". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 24 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ Written at La Paz. "La hija de Jeanine Añez es la nueva representante en Gestión Social de la Presidencia". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). Cochabamba. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 25 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ Vaca, Mery (11 April 2021). "Carolina Ribera: 'Esta es una lucha de todos; hoy es mi madre, mañana puede ser cualquiera'". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ "Carolina Ribera: 'Lo que hice fue un grito de desesperación'". Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 18 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
^ "CC afirma que Carolina Ribera reflejará en EEUU la 'democracia en fachada' de Bolivia y en el MAS dicen que es solo para mentir". Erbol (in Spanish). 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2022.