Xinhua

The new Bolivian cabinet, in which half of the ministerial posts went to women, took office on Saturday in a showcase of the country's efforts to achieve gender equality.

President Evo Morales swore in each one of the ministers, urging them to work to strengthen democracy and fight corruption.

This was the first time in the history of Bolivia that women take up as many ministerial posts as men in the cabinet.

Morales said that Saturday was a historic date because it saw the fulfillment of gender equality at the cabinet.

In the new cabinet, Morales chose Oscar Coca Antezana, who during the previous term had been planning and later hydrocarbon minister, to be the minister of the presidency, replacing Juan Ramon Quintana.

Besides Antezana, the new ministers are Interior Minister Sacha Llorenti Soliz, Defense Minister Ruben Saavedra Soto, Hydrocarbon Minister Luis Fernando Vincentti Vargas and Mining Minister Milton Gomez Mamani.

Source: Xinhua