Carmen García (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Carmen García

| image = Carmen García Mamani (Official Photo, 2012) Chamber of Senators of Bolivia.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2012

| alt = Headshot of Carmen García

| office = Senator for Potosí

| 1blankname = {{Nowrap|Substitute}}

| 1namedata = Julio Villegas

| term_start = 19 January 2010

| term_end = 18 January 2015

| predecessor = Carmen Rosa Velásquez

| successor = Adela Cussi

| birth_name = Carmen García Mamani

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|07|16|df=y}}

| birth_place = Yonsa, Potosí, Bolivia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Movement for Socialism

| alma_mater = Franz Tamayo Normal School

| occupation = {{Hlist|Educator|politician|trade unionist}}

}}

Carmen García Mamani (born 16 July 1963) is a Bolivian academic, politician, and trade unionist who served as senator for Potosí from 2010 to 2015. A member of the Movement for Socialism, she previously served on the Tomave Municipal Council from 2000 to 2005.

An ethnic Quechua, García worked for over a decade as a schoolteacher in rural Potosí. She later studied educational management at multiple universities, finally settling on a career in teacher training and indigenous language research. In tandem, García actively operated within the trade syndicates of her home region, through which she began a career in politics as a member of the Movement for Socialism.

Elected to the Tomave Municipal Council in 1999, García later won a seat in the Senate in 2009, representing Potosí. Over the course of her tenure, García grew disgruntled with the often hierarchical structure of her caucus and ultimately joined a group of "free thinking" ruling party dissidents that depleted the government's parliamentary supermajority. She was not nominated for reelection.

Early life and career

Carmen García was born on 16 July 1963 in Yonsa, a hamlet in the Campos Province of western Potosí.{{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}} She spent most of her early life in nearby Quijarro Province, residing in Tocora, a community situated in one of the many {{lang|es|ayllus}} that make up the Uyuni valley. An ethnic Quechua, García was raised monolingual, speaking only her native tongue until reaching primary school, where she was made to learn Spanish.{{sfn|Gonzales Salas|2013|p=481}} She completed her primary studies at the 1 de Mayo School in Tocora before moving back to the Campos Province to finish her secondary education.{{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}}

García graduated as a primary school teacher from the Franz Tamayo Normal School in Llica. She taught at educational institutions in and around southwest Potosí for over fifteen years.{{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}} In tandem, she also pursued instruction in educational management;{{sfn|Gonzales Salas|2013|p=481}} taking advantage of the enhanced training opportunities conferred to teachers by the education reform of 1994,{{sfn|Romero Ballivián|2018|p=247}} García attended courses in multiple cities, graduating with a bachelor's in intercultural bilingual education from Tomás Frías University and a master's in the same field from the Higher University of San Simón, in addition to receiving a second bachelor's in educational management from Juan Misael Saracho University.{{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}}

After graduating, García settled in Cochabamba, where she dedicated herself to a career in teacher training at the Paracaya Normal School in addition to doing research work in the fields of indigenous and second languages.{{sfn|Página Siete|2012}} During this time, between 2007 and 2008, she completed a postgraduate diploma in indigenous rights at Cochabamba's Simón I. Patiño University.{{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}}

Chamber of Senators

= Election =

Alongside her work in education, García actively participated in her region's trade syndicates and social movement organizations, holding membership in the Uyuni affiliate of the Unified Regional Federation of Rural Workers of Southwest Potosí.{{sfn|Página Siete|2012}} The organization's early association with the nascent Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP) facilitated García's entry into politics, starting out in 1999, when she was elected to a seat on Tomave's municipal council.{{sfn|Romero Ballivián|2018|p=247}}

In 2009, García's syndicate nominated her for a seat in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly, and the MAS, in turn, incorporated her onto its slate of Potosí Senate candidates. The decision to designate her to a high Senate position was driven by the implementation of a fifty percent female gender quota, which first took effect this election cycle. As a result of this requirement, García joined the largest delegation of peasant women ever elected to parliament up to that point.{{sfnm|1a1=Gonzales Salas|1y=2013|1pp=481–482|2a1=Romero Ballivián|2y=2018|2pp=247–248}} Uniquely, she was the only newly elected senator not to succeed a man in the position; her predecessor, Carmen Rosa Velásquez, had been the sole female senator elected in 2005.{{sfn|Romero Ballivián|2018|p=630}}

= Tenure =

With the expressed mission of making Bolivia a benchmark country on the topic, García's senatorial term focused on her field of expertise: education.{{sfnm|1a1=Página Siete|1y=2012|2a1=Gonzales Salas|2y=2013|2p=482}} She chaired the Senate's Education Committee in her first year, overseeing the initial stages of reviewing and passing 2010's landmark Avelino Siñani Educational Law, which implemented a new system of education, with special emphasis on indigenous and traditional knowledge.{{sfnm|1a1=Los Tiempos|1y=2010|2a1=Ministerio de Comunicación|2y=2020}} That bill, notably, was approved by parliament without any modifications from the original draft delivered by the executive, reflecting{{snd}}from García's perspective{{snd}}the MAS's rigid internal hierarchy, which often discouraged legislators from challenging the party line.{{sfnm|1a1=La Razón|1y=2010|2a1=Página Siete|2y=2012}}

Over the course of her tenure, the inability of legislators "to participate at all" in decision-making led García to grow disaffected with her party.{{sfn|El Deber|2013}} By 2013, she had joined the ranks of the so-called "freethinkers", a small faction of MAS dissidents that assumed a critical stance toward the government without fully aligning with the conservative opposition.{{sfnm|1a1=Opinión|1y=2013|2a1=Romero Ballivián|2y=2018|2pp=194; 248}} Though a majority of the group's members came from the Chamber of Deputies, they also counted the support of a few senators, including García, but also her regional colleague, Eduardo Maldonado, as well as Pando's senator, Manuel Limachi.{{sfn|El Diario|2014}} García's break with the ruling party was not without consequences; in 2013, she was expelled from her committee seat, ostensibly due to coordination issues,{{sfn|La Razón|2013}} and by the end of her term, she was not nominated for reelection.{{sfn|Romero Ballivián|2018|p=248}}

= Commission assignments =

Chamber of Senators Directorate (Third Secretary: {{tooltip|2011|20 January 2011|dotted=no}}–{{tooltip|2012|25 January 2012|dotted=no}}){{sfn|Los Tiempos|2011}}
State Security, Armed Forces, and Bolivian Police Commission
State Security and Fight Against Drug Trafficking Committee (Secretary: 2013–{{tooltip|2014|27 January 2014|dotted=no}}){{sfn|Nuevo Estado|2013|p=18}}
Plural Economy, Production, Industry, and Industrialization Commission
Energy, Hydrocarbons, Mining, and Metallurgy Committee (Secretary: {{tooltip|2012|27 January 2012|dotted=no}}–{{tooltip|2013|24 August 2013|dotted=no}}){{sfnm|1a1=Prensa Senado|1y=2012|2a1=Prensa Senado|2y=2013}}
Social Policy, Education, and Health Commission
Education, Health, Science, Technology, and Sports Committee (Secretary: {{tooltip|2010|2 February 2010|dotted=no}}–{{tooltip|2011|20 January 2011|dotted=no}}, {{tooltip|2014|27 January 2014|dotted=no}}–{{tooltip|2015|18 January 2015|dotted=no}}){{sfnm|1a1=El Diario|1y=2010|2a1=Prensa Senado|2y=2014}}

Electoral history

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;" \|+ {{sronly\|Electoral history of Carmen García}} ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 \| Year ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 \| Office ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 \| Party ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=3 \| Votes ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 \| Result ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 \| {{abbr\|2=Reference\|Ref}}.
style="background-color:#EAECF0;" \| Total ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" \| % ! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" \| {{abbr\|2=Position\|P}}.
style="background-color:#EAECF0;" \| 1999 \| Substitute councillor \| style="background-color:{{party color\|Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)}};"\| \| Movement for Socialism \| 212 \| 9.50% \| 5th \| {{yes2\|Won}} \| {{sfn\|Atlas Electoral\|1999}}{{efn-lg\|name=fn1\|Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.}}
style="background-color:#EAECF0;" \| 2009 \| Senator \| style="background-color:{{party color\|Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)}};"\| \| Movement for Socialism \| 243,855 \| 78.32% \| 1st \| {{yes2\|Won}} \| {{sfn\|Atlas Electoral\|2009}}{{efn-lg\|name=fn1}}
style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=9 \| Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ {{!}} [https://atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo/#/ Electoral Atlas]

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

|+ {{sronly|Electoral history of Carmen García}}

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Year

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Office

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Party

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=3 | Votes

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | Result

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" rowspan=2 | {{abbr|2=Reference|Ref}}.

style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | Total

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | %

! style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | {{abbr|2=Position|P}}.

style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 1999

| Substitute councillor

| style="background-color:{{party color|Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)}};"|

| Movement for Socialism

| 212

| 9.50%

| 5th

| {{yes2|Won}}

| {{sfn|Atlas Electoral|1999}}{{efn-lg|name=fn1|Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.}}

style="background-color:#EAECF0;" | 2009

| Senator

| style="background-color:{{party color|Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)}};"|

| Movement for Socialism

| 243,855

| 78.32%

| 1st

| {{yes2|Won}}

| {{sfn|Atlas Electoral|2009}}{{efn-lg|name=fn1}}

style="background-color:#EAECF0;" colspan=9 | Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ {{!}} [https://atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo/#/ Electoral Atlas]

Publications

{{Cite book |ref=none |last=García Mamani |first=Carmen |year=2011 |chapter=La descolonización en la construcción de la política educativa |editor-last=Navarro |editor-first=Mónica |title=Estrategias para una educación superior descolonizadora intra e intercultural |url=https://red.minedu.gob.bo/fuente/recurso/7347 |language=es |publication-place=Cochabamba |publisher=FUNPROEIB Andes |pages=79–96}}
{{Cite book |ref=none |last=García Mamani |first=Carmen |author-mask=11 |year=2014 |chapter=Pluralismo epistemológico en perspectiva indígena |editor-last=Zambrana B. |editor-first=Amílcar |title=Pluralismo epistemológico: Reflexiones sobre la educación superior en el Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia |url=https://red.minedu.gob.bo/fuente/recurso/7353 |language=es |publication-place=Cochabamba |publisher=FUNPROEIB Andes |pages=151–162 |isbn=978-99954-874-4-7 |oclc=885219963}}

References

= Notes =

= Footnotes =

= Works cited =

Online and list sources

{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|El Diario|2010}} |title=La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2010–2011 |url=https://www.pub.eldiario.net/noticias/2010/2010_02/nt100203/2_02plt.php |work=El Diario |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |date=3 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316085600/https://www.pub.eldiario.net/noticias/2010/2010_02/nt100203/2_02plt.php |archive-date=16 March 2023 |access-date=17 February 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|Los Tiempos|2011}} |title=La Cámara de Senadores conformó su Directiva: Gestión Legislativa 2011–2012 |url=https://www.lostiempos.com/actualidad/nacional/20110121/oposicion-senado-pierde-espacio |work=Los Tiempos |language=es |publication-place=Cochabamba |date=21 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309070521/https://www.lostiempos.com/actualidad/nacional/20110121/oposicion-senado-pierde-espacio |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Prensa Senado|2012}} |title=La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2012–2013 |url=http://adolfomendozaleigue.blogspot.com/2012/01/camara-de-senadores-conforma-comisiones.html |website=senado.bo |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |publisher=Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional |date=27 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514033350/http://adolfomendozaleigue.blogspot.com/2012/01/camara-de-senadores-conforma-comisiones.html |archive-date=14 May 2018 |access-date=1 March 2023}}
{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Prensa Senado|2013}} |title=La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2013–2014 |url=http://www.senado.bo/noticia/camara_de_senadores_conforma_comisiones_y_comites_para_2013 |website=senado.bo |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |publisher=Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional |date=24 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120082118/http://www.senado.bo/noticia/camara_de_senadores_conforma_comisiones_y_comites_para_2013 |archive-date=20 November 2013 |access-date=17 February 2023}}
{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Prensa Senado|2014}} |title=La Cámara de Senadores conformó sus 10 Comisiones y 20 Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2014–2015 |url=http://www.senado.bo/noticia/senado_elige_por_unanimidad_cabezas_de_comisiones_y_comites_para_la_presente_gestion_legislativa |website=senado.bo |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |publisher=Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional |date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629224259/http://www.senado.bo/noticia/senado_elige_por_unanimidad_cabezas_de_comisiones_y_comites_para_la_presente_gestion_legislativa |archive-date=29 June 2014 |access-date=17 February 2023}}
{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Atlas Electoral|1999}} |title=Elecciones Muncipales 1999 {{!}} Atlas Electoral |url=https://atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo/#/subproceso/1/451/9 |website=atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo |language=es |location=La Paz |publisher=Órgano Electoral Plurinacional |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/MUejQ |archive-date=9 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Atlas Electoral|2009}} |title=Elecciones Generales 2009 {{!}} Atlas Electoral |url=https://atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo/#/sub_proceso/82/39/3 |website=atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo |language=es |location=La Paz |publisher=Órgano Electoral Plurinacional |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/OIqsx |archive-date=16 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}

Digital and print publications

{{Cite web |ref={{harvid|Ministerio de Comunicación|2020}} |title=Cárdenas evaluará la Ley Avelino Siñani y postulará transformación educativa |trans-title=Cárdenas Will Evaluate the Avelino Siñani Law and Propose Education Reform |url=https://www.comunicacion.gob.bo/?q=20200129/28728 |website=comunicacion.gob.bo |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |publisher={{ill|Ministerio de Comunicación del Estado Plurinacional|es|Ministerio de Comunicación (Bolivia)}} |date=29 January 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129204041/https://www.comunicacion.gob.bo/?q=20200129/28728 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|El Deber|2013}} |title=Carmen García: 'Que el 'vice' descanse un periodo y después entre en otro' |trans-title=Carmen García: "Let the Vice President Rest for a Period and Return Another Time" |url=https://eldeber.com.bo/nota.php?id=130515002319 |work=El Deber |language=es |publication-place=Santa Cruz de la Sierra |date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608154918/http://eju.tv/2013/05/aumentan-voces-en-el-mas-en-rechazo-a-tercera-releccin-de-garca-linera |archive-date=8 June 2013 |access-date=12 August 2023 |via=eju!}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|Opinión|2013}} |title=Cinco asambleístas del MAS se reunieron con disidentes |trans-title=Six MAS Assemblymembers Met with Dissidents |url=https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/el-pais/asambleistas-mas-reunieron-disidentes/20130611064000473671.html |work=Opinión |language=es |publication-place=Cochabamba |date=11 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926022923/https://www.opinion.com.bo/articulo/el-pais/asambleistas-mas-reunieron-disidentes/20130611064000473671.html |archive-date=26 September 2022 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|La Razón|2010}} |title=Evo promulgará este lunes la Ley Avelino Siñani |trans-title=Evo to Sign Avelino Siñani Law This Monday |url=https://www.la-razon.com/sociedad/2010/12/20/evo-promulgara-este-lunes-la-ley-avelino-sinani |work=La Razón |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |date=20 December 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311080934/https://www.la-razon.com/sociedad/2010/12/20/evo-promulgara-este-lunes-la-ley-avelino-sinani |archive-date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|Los Tiempos|2010}} |title=La Ley Avelino Siñani ingresará en agosto a la Asamblea Legislativa |trans-title=Avelino Siñani Law to Be Discussed in the Legislative Assembly in August |url=https://www.lostiempos.com/actualidad/nacional/20100716/ley-avelino-sinani-ingresara-agosto-asamblea-legislativa |work=Los Tiempos |language=es |publication-place=Cochabamba |date=16 July 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311065600/https://www.lostiempos.com/actualidad/nacional/20100716/ley-avelino-sinani-ingresara-agosto-asamblea-legislativa |archive-date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|La Razón|2013}} |last=Luizaga |first=Dennis |date=24 August 2013 |title=El MAS remueve a senadora Carmen García |trans-title=The MAS Removes Senator Carmen García |url=http://www.la-razon.com/nacional/remueve-senadora-Carmen-Garcia_0_1894010635.html |work=La Razón |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311080620/https://www.la-razon.com/nacional/2013/08/24/el-mas-remueve-a-senadora-carmen-garcia/ |archive-date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|El Diario|2014}} |title=Moya se suma a diputados que dejan al oficialismo |trans-title=Moya Joins List of Lawmakers Who Left the Ruling Party |url=https://www.pub.eldiario.net/noticias/2014/2014_03/nt140331/politica.php?n=37&-moya-se-suma-a-diputados-que-dejan-al-oficialismo |work=El Diario |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |date=31 March 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311080402/https://www.pub.eldiario.net/noticias/2014/2014_03/nt140331/politica.php?n=37&-moya-se-suma-a-diputados-que-dejan-al-oficialismo |archive-date=11 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite news |ref={{harvid|Página Siete|2012}} |last=Peralta |first=Pablo |date=8 July 2012| title=Senadora Carmen García: 'He venido con tantos sueños, pero me siento desmotivada' |trans-title=Senator Carmen García: "I Came with So Many Dreams, but I Feel Unmotivated" |url=https://lafronterados.blogspot.com/2012/07/senadora-carmen-garcia-he-venido-con.html |work=Página Siete |language=es |publication-place=La Paz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310205325/https://lafronterados.blogspot.com/2012/07/senadora-carmen-garcia-he-venido-con.html |archive-date=10 March 2023 |access-date=12 August 2023}}
{{Cite magazine |ref={{harvid|Nuevo Estado|2013}} |title=Senadoras y senadores del Estado Plurinacional: Carmen García Mamani |trans-title=Senators of the Plurinational State: Carmen García Mamani |url=https://archive.org/details/nuevoestado-02-05/page/n17 |magazine=Nuevo Estado |language=es |volume=2 |issue=5 |publication-place=La Paz |date=November 2013 |page=18 |access-date=12 August 2023 |via=the Internet Archive}}

Books and encyclopedias

{{Cite book |editor-last=Gonzales Salas |editor-first=Inés |year=2013 |title=Biografías: Historias de vida en la Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional |url=https://archive.org/details/historias-de-vida-en-la-asamblea-legislativa-plurinacional/page/481 |language=es |publisher=Editorial Gente Común; ERBOL; Fundación Friedrich Ebert; IDEA Internacional |pages=481–483 |isbn=978-99954-93-05-9 |oclc=876429743 |via=the Internet Archive}}
{{Cite book |last=Romero Ballivián |first=Salvador |author-link=Salvador Romero |year=2018 |editor-last=Quiroga Velasco |editor-first=Camilo |title=Diccionario biográfico de parlamentarios 1979–2019 |url=https://archive.org/details/diccionario-biografico-de-parlamentarios-1979-2019/page/247 |language=es |edition=2nd |location=La Paz |publisher=FUNDAPPAC; Fundación Konrad Adenauer |pages=247–248 |isbn=978-99974-0-021-5 |oclc=1050945993 |via=the Internet Archive}}

External links

[https://www.vicepresidencia.gob.bo/spip.php?page=parlamentario&id_parlamentario=101 Parliamentary profile] Office of the Vice President {{inlang|es}}.
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140709004743/http://www.senado.bo/descripcion_de_senador/11-Carmen_García_Mamani Parliamentary profile] Chamber of Senators {{inlang|es}}. Archived from [http://www.senado.bo/descripcion_de_senador/11-Carmen_García_Mamani the original] on 9 July 2014.
[https://erbol.com.bo/podcast/biografias_asamblea_plurinacional/carmen_garcia_mamani Biographic profile] ERBOL {{inlang|es}}.

{{Navboxes

|title=Offices and distinctions

|list1=

{{s-ttl|title=Senator for Potosí|alongside={{Br list|Eduardo Maldonado,|Efraín Condori, Clementina Garnica}}|years=2010–2015}}