The political tectonic plates in La Paz shifted violently on Wednesday as former President Luis Arce was taken into police custody, sparking immediate cries of a “kidnapping” from his ousted inner circle.

Coming just weeks after Arce handed over power in November, the detention marks a dramatic escalation in the new administration’s vow to dismantle the legacy of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS). It signals a ruthless era of accountability—or, as critics fear, a calculated political purge reminiscent of the turbulent transitions often seen in developing democracies.

A "TikTok General" Strikes Back

The narrative surrounding the arrest is sharply divided. María Nela Prada Tejada, Arce’s former presidency minister, took to social media to allege that the former leader had been “illegally kidnapped” by police officers acting on unofficial orders. She described a chaotic scene outside the police headquarters in La Paz, where she was reportedly denied entry to see him.

However, the government’s narrative is one of strict law enforcement. Vice-President Edmand Lara, a former police officer who rose to fame exposing corruption on TikTok, confirmed the detention was executed under a formal prosecutorial resolution. Lara, whose populist style resonates with a digital-first electorate, did not mince words regarding the motivation behind the move.

• The Charge: Alleged involvement in the misuse of a fund designated for Indigenous Bolivians.
• The Unit: The Special Force to Fight Crime’s department for illicit gains.
• The Promise: Lara declared, “Everyone who has stolen from this country will return every last cent and be held to account.”

The End of 20 Years of Dominance

This arrest is the first major aftershock following the seismic election that ended nearly two decades of MAS dominance. Arce handed over the presidential sash only last month to Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a centre-right former senator. The transition was peaceful, but the rhetoric has been anything but.

State broadcaster Bolivia TV offered a more procedural view of the events, reporting that Arce was giving a statement in the presence of the ombudsman’s office, a detail likely intended to assuage international concerns regarding human rights violations.

For observers in Nairobi, the events in La Paz serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of political transitions. As the new administration moves to fulfill its campaign promises of rooting out graft, the line between justice and vengeance remains dangerously thin.