The former vice president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia received the highest distinction from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario.
The general secretary of the University, José Goity, swore in the new honorary member of the UNR, Álvaro García Linera during an event that was broadcast live on the University's official YouTube channel. It was coordinated by Carlos Silva and had the participation of the Rector Franco Bartolacci, the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), Karina Battyány and the godfather of the doctoral student, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Alejandro Vila .
Álvaro García Linera accompanied the administration of Evo Morales from January 22, 2006 to November 10, 2019. As vice president of Bolivia, he led one of the most transformative political projects on the continent, which was characterized by an unprecedented economic takeoff, in which vast majorities, fundamentally indigenous, were included for the first time in a democratizing political and social model.
“This is a recognition of their historical commitment, their present struggle, their intellectual production of excellence but also the vocation and will to translate it into concrete political action that transforms the lives of our people,” stated the Rector of the UNR. Franco Bartolacci and added: “You have allowed you to restore dignity to the brother people of Bolivia, which others wanted to overwhelm. It is a pride, a pleasure and it exalts our house the possibility of having you among our teachers, welcome.”
“Alvaro García Linera is a consistent popular activist, a prestigious academic of the social sciences and a statesman who has led, from the government of Bolivia, one of the most profound processes of social, economic, cultural and political transformation in the history of his country and Latin America,” said Alejandro Vila. “His passionate commitment to the popular field has not prevented him from becoming a distinguished intellectual. His vast career as a researcher and teacher, which began at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés and then continued in various universities in Latin America and the rest of the world, has had a special chapter in recent times for the Argentine universities that knew how to welcome him in his exile. ”he added.
Vila referred to the fact that during his vice presidency Bolivia experienced an important process of growth and economic stabilization that brought with it the inclusion of the great majorities in a country with marked structural inequality. Extreme poverty was drastically reduced to less than half, from 38 to 15%, the same as unemployment. During the first 13 years of the MAS government, GDP quadrupled and the minimum wage quintupled. For this, the policies of nationalization of natural resources were fundamental. On the other hand, in the educational field, Bolivia was declared a nation free of illiteracy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Dr. García Linera thanked the Argentine people, their government and the public Universities that “throughout this very difficult year for our country and the continent, Argentina was on the side of the humble people, on the side of the people, of "working people, defending popular continentalism of integration against violence, coups d'état and the violation of democratic rights."
He said that Argentine Universities opened the doors to him to be able to work, research, teach, classes, learn, know and connect with the new generations. “I cannot fail to recognize all the people who have given us a hand to move forward and have accompanied with great joy the victory again of the Bolivian people who have overcome adversity and who have defeated with the vote this attempt to kidnap the democracy, this criminal attempt to silence the popular will with blood and fire.”
Journalist: Victoria Arrabal