:Fernando Vásquez
{{Short description|Bolivian Minister of Mining (2020)}}
{{Distinguish|Fernando Vázquez}}
{{About|the politician|other uses|Fernando Vázquez (disambiguation)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Vásquez|Arnez|lang=Spanish}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Fernando Vásquez
| image = Fernando Vásquez. 8 May 2020, Ministry of Communication, Palacio Quemado La Paz (51909264358) Cropped.jpg
| alt = Headshot of Fernando Vásquez wearing a surgical mask.
| office = Minister of Mining and Metallurgy
| president = Jeanine Áñez
| term_start = 8 May 2020
| term_end = 30 May 2020
| predecessor = Carlos Huallpa
| successor = Jorge Oropeza
| office1 = Vice Minister of Productive Development and Metallurgical Mining
| president1 = Jeanine Áñez
| 1blankname1 = Minister
| 1namedata1 = Carlos Huallpa
| term_start1 = 3 December 2019
| term_end1 = 8 May 2020
| birth_name = Fernando Iván Vásquez Arnez
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1962|5|24}}
| birth_place = Catavi, Potosí, Bolivia
| alma_mater = University of São Paulo (PhD)
| occupation = {{Hlist|Engineer|politician}}
| signature = (Signature) Fernando Vásquez.svg
| signature_alt = Cursive signature in ink
}}
Fernando Iván Vásquez Arnez (born 24 May 1962) is a Bolivian geotechnical and mining engineer and politician who served as minister of mining and metallurgy from 8 May to 30 May 2020. He previously served as vice minister of productive development and metallurgical mining from 2019 to 2020 and as director of the environment and public consultation from 2006 to 2011. Shortly into his ministerial term, Vásquez stated that his white complexion made him incapable of being a member of the Movement for Socialism, causing broad condemnation and his removal from office less than a month after being appointed.
Early life and career
Fernando Vásquez was born on 24 May 1962 in Catavi in the Rafael Bustillo Province of the Potosí Department.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-08 |title=El potosino Fernando Vásquez fue posesionado como Ministro de Minería y Metalurgia |url=https://www.autoridadminera.gob.bo/public/index.php/noticias/notas,1566.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131130506/https://www.autoridadminera.gob.bo/public/index.php/noticias/notas,1566.html |archive-date=2022-01-31 |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=autoridadminera.gob.bo |language=es}} He studied at the Junín School before conducting university studies abroad, graduating from the University of São Paulo in Brazil, where he received a PhD in mining and geotechnical engineering.{{Cite web |date=2020-05-08 |title=Presidenta posesiona al potosino Fernando Vásquez como Ministro de Minería |url=https://www.comunicacion.gob.bo/?q=20200508/29370 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204003202/https://www.comunicacion.gob.bo/?q=20200508/29370 |archive-date=2021-12-04 |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=comunicacion.gob.bo |publisher=Ministry of Communication |language=es |publication-place=La Paz}}
Returning to Bolivia, he worked as a university assistant and teacher and was a consultant in the field of mining and geology, later being employed by institutions such as the Mining Financing Fund, Hanaer and Sinchi Wayra Mining Companies, the Federation of Gold Mining Cooperatives of the North of La Paz, and the Swiss Technical Cooperation, among others. During the ministerial administrations of Luis Alberto Echazú and José Antonio Pimentel, Vásquez worked as the director of the environment and public consultation within the Ministry of Mining. He held the position until 2011.{{Cite news |last=Corz |first=Carlos |date=2020-05-29 |title=Ministro Vásquez niega vínculo con el MAS y alega: 'tengo ojos verdes, (soy) un poco crespo{{nbsp}}... soy blanco' |language=es |work=La Razón |publication-place=La Paz |url=https://www.la-razon.com/nacional/2020/05/29/ministro-vasquez-niega-vinculo-con-el-mas-tengo-ojos-verdes-un-poco-crespo-soy-blanco/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415112347/https://www.la-razon.com/nacional/2020/05/29/ministro-vasquez-niega-vinculo-con-el-mas-tengo-ojos-verdes-un-poco-crespo-soy-blanco/ |archive-date=2021-04-15 }}
Aside from Spanish, Vásquez is fluent in two other languages: Portuguese and Quechua.{{Cite news |date=2020-05-08 |title=Cambian dos ministros: Ortiz asume en Desarrollo Productivo y Vásquez en Minería |language=es |agency=ERBOL |publication-place=La Paz |url=https://erbol.com.bo/nacional/cambian-dos-ministros-ortiz-asume-en-desarrollo-productivo-y-v%C3%A1squez-en-miner%C3%ADa |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204003203/https://erbol.com.bo/nacional/cambian-dos-ministros-ortiz-asume-en-desarrollo-productivo-y-v%C3%A1squez-en-miner%C3%ADa |archive-date=2021-12-04}}
Minister of Mining
On 3 December 2019, Minister of Mining Carlos Huallpa appointed Vásquez as vice minister of productive development and metallurgical mining.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-05 |title=Ministro Huallpa posesiona a dos viceministros |url=https://www.autoridadminera.gob.bo/public/index.php/noticias/notas,1509.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131130601/https://www.autoridadminera.gob.bo/public/index.php/noticias/notas,1509.html |archive-date=2022-01-31 |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=autoridadminera.gob.bo |language=es}} He held the position until 8 May, when President Jeanine Áñez appointed him to replace Huallpa, who had resigned for personal reasons.{{Cite web |last=Áñez Chávez |first=Jeanine |author-link=Jeanine Áñez |date=2020-05-08 |title=Decreto Presidencial N° 4233 |url=http://www.gacetaoficialdebolivia.gob.bo/normas/buscar/4233 |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=gacetaoficialdebolivia.gob.bo |publisher=Gaceta Oficial del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia |language=es |publication-place=La Paz}}{{Cite news |date=2020-05-08 |title=Óscar Ortiz y Fernando Vásquez asumen como nuevos ministros del gabinete de Áñez |language=es |work=UNITEL |publication-place=Santa Cruz de la Sierra |url=https://unitel.bo/noticias/oscar-ortiz-y-fernando-vasquez-asumen-como-nuevos-ministros-del-gabinete-de-anez_73740 |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204004651/https://unitel.bo/noticias/oscar-ortiz-y-fernando-vasquez-asumen-como-nuevos-ministros-del-gabinete-de-anez_73740 |archive-date=2021-12-04}} Regarding Vásquez's appointment, the president assured that his office "will be one of the most important supports of the Bolivian economy" and assured that she was "entrusting him with a large part of Bolivia's hopes".{{Cite news |date=2020-05-08 |title=Áñez posesiona a dos ministros y les insta a reactivar la economía |language=es |work=Correo del Sur |publication-place=Sucre |url=https://correodelsur.com/politica/20200508_anez-posesiona-a-dos-ministros-y-les-insta-a-reactivar-la-economia.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512004903/https://correodelsur.com/politica/20200508_anez-posesiona-a-dos-ministros-y-les-insta-a-reactivar-la-economia.html |archive-date=2020-05-12 |quote='...{{nbsp}}la minería será uno de los soportes más importantes de la economía de Bolivia{{nbsp}}...', [Jeanine Áñez] le dijo a Vásquez, al agregar: 'Le estoy encargando gran parte de las esperanzas de Bolivia'.}}
Due to his previous work in the government of President Evo Morales, Vásquez denied having a connection to the former president's Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) party. In a statement to Radio Fides Potosí on 29 May, Vásquez assured that he was incapable of being a member of the MAS because "to be a Masista there are some specifications, including identity; I have green eyes, curly hair, I am white. I do not want to discriminate, but I think that my conditions do not make me compatible with the rest of the people of the Movement for Socialism".{{Cite news |last=Corz |first=Carlos |date=2020-05-29 |title=Ministro Vásquez niega vínculo con el MAS y alega: 'tengo ojos verdes, (soy) un poco crespo{{nbsp}}... soy blanco' |language=es |work=La Razón |publication-place=La Paz |url=https://www.la-razon.com/nacional/2020/05/29/ministro-vasquez-niega-vinculo-con-el-mas-tengo-ojos-verdes-un-poco-crespo-soy-blanco/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415112347/https://www.la-razon.com/nacional/2020/05/29/ministro-vasquez-niega-vinculo-con-el-mas-tengo-ojos-verdes-un-poco-crespo-soy-blanco/ |archive-date=2021-04-15 |quote='Ahora, con respecto a mi vinculación con el MAS, creo que no tengo ni los requisitos porque para ser masista hay algunas especificaciones, inclusive de identidad; tengo ojos verdes, un poco crespo, eso no me permite, soy blanco, no quiero discriminar, pero creo que esas mis condiciones no hacen que yo sea compatible con el resto de las personas del Movimiento al Socialismo', [Vásquez] afirmó durante una entrevista con radio Fides Potosí{{nbsp}}...}} The statement generated criticism from both the MAS and members of the opposition, with National Unity leader Samuel Doria Medina stating that "qualifying others and oneself by the color of their skin and eyes is an act of ignorance and stupidity the size of Illimani. It is inadmissible. The minister of mining must publicly apologize."{{Cite news |date=2020-05-03 |title=Llueven críticas a ministro por sus declaraciones de sus 'ojos verdes' y el MAS |language=es |work=Página Siete |publication-place=La Paz |url=https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/2020/5/30/llueven-criticas-ministro-por-sus-declaraciones-de-sus-ojos-verdes-el-mas-256998.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531071819/https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/2020/5/30/llueven-criticas-ministro-por-sus-declaraciones-de-sus-ojos-verdes-el-mas-256998.html |archive-date=2020-05-31 |quote='...{{nbsp}}Samuel Doria Medina también criticó las declaraciones de Vásquez: 'Calificar a los demás y a uno mismo por el color de su piel y sus ojos es un acto de ignorancia y estupidez del tamaño del Illimani. Es inadmisible. El ministro de Minería debe disculparse públicamente. Lo rechazo categóricamente'.}} Vásquez did so the following day, calling his statement "totally wrong" but defending that it had been made ironically, a figure of speech he claimed "is not always well understood".{{Cite news |date=2020-05-30 |title=Ministro de Minería pide disculpas por sus declaraciones; afirma que fue una reacción irónica |language=es |work=Correo del Sur |publication-place=Sucre |url=https://correodelsur.com/politica/20200530_ministro-de-mineria-pide-disculpas-por-sus-declaraciones-afirma-que-fue-una-reaccion-ironica.html |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610125655/https://correodelsur.com/politica/20200530_ministro-de-mineria-pide-disculpas-por-sus-declaraciones-afirma-que-fue-una-reaccion-ironica.html |archive-date=2020-06-10 |quote=Reconozco que mi respuesta ha sido totalmente equivocada, con mucha ironía y la ironía no siempre es bien entendida.}}
Nonetheless, the majority MAS caucus in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly released a public demand that president remove the minister. Áñez complied, and on 30 May, she dismissed Vásquez from his post, citing his "racist expressions", bringing an end to his tenure after just twenty-two days.{{Cite news |date=2020-05-31 |title=Áñez destituyó al ministro de Minería de Bolivia por sus 'expresiones racistas' |language=es |work=Infobae |publication-place=Buenos Aires |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2020/05/31/anez-destituyo-al-ministro-de-mineria-de-bolivia-por-sus-expresiones-racistas/ |url-status=live |access-date=2021-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610115449/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2020/05/31/anez-destituyo-al-ministro-de-mineria-de-bolivia-por-sus-expresiones-racistas/ |archive-date=2020-06-10 |quote='Como presidenta he decidido la destitución del ministro Vásquez por sus expresiones racistas{{nbsp}}...', afirmó Áñez{{nbsp}}...}} He was replaced in the position by Jorge Oropeza, the former mayor of Potosí, on 12 June.{{Cite news |date=2020-06-12 |title=Jorge Oropeza, exalcalde de Potosí, es el nuevo ministro de Minería |language=es |agency=Urgente.bo |publication-place=La Paz |url=https://urgente.bo/noticia/jorge-oropeza-exalcalde-de-potos%C3%AD-es-el-nuevo-ministro-de-miner%C3%ADa |url-status=live |access-date=2022-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820072756/https://urgente.bo/noticia/jorge-oropeza-exalcalde-de-potos%C3%AD-es-el-nuevo-ministro-de-miner%C3%ADa |archive-date=2022-08-20}}
References
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{{s-bef|before=Carlos Huallpa}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Mining and Metallurgy|years=2020}}
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{{Áñez cabinet}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vásquez, Fernando}}
Category:21st-century Bolivian politicians
Category:Áñez administration cabinet members
Category:Evo Morales administration personnel
Category:Deputy government ministers of Bolivia
Category:Mining ministers of Bolivia
Category:People from Rafael Bustillo Province
Category:University of São Paulo alumni
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