La Paz, Oct 20: New Bolivian President Carlos Mesa has formally presented his new 15-member transitional cabinet at a ceremony in the presidential palace. As promised, the cabinet contained mainly independent technocrats who have no known connections to Bolivia's major political parties.
Mesa has said he believes most Bolivian political parties have thoroughly discredited themselves and should, at least for a while, be kept outside the government.
The cabinet includes ministers of indigenous affairs and popular participation -- new departments created by Mesa.
The new President has also appointed a special delegate charged with fighting corruption.
Mesa took over Friday after President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada stepped down following four weeks of deadly protests over an unpopular planned natural gas export programme and amid worsening conditions in South America's poorest country. Bureau Report