María Elva Pinckert

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pinckert and the second or maternal family name is Vaca.

María Elva Pinckert Vaca (born 15 January 1961) is a Bolivian businesswoman, lawyer, and politician who served as minister of environment and water from 2019 to 2020. Pinckert developed her career in Santa Cruz's agro-industrial heartland, during which time she rose to key positions of regional economic and political influence, including presiding over the Montero Civic Committee and serving as vice president of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Elected to the Montero Municipal Council as a member of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement in 1999, Pinckert later switched to the New Republican Force, with which she won reelection. In 2009, the party promoted her to the Senate as a substitute senator under Germán Antelo. Amid the disunity brought about by the fragmentation of her parliamentary caucus, Pinckert aligned with the Social Democratic Movement, which nominated her for a full Senate seat. Elected in 2014, Pinckert held office until 2019, when she joined the Áñez administration as head of environmental and water policy. As with many former Áñez ministers, Pinckert faced judicial consequences for her collaboration with the transitional government, leading her to seek refuge in Brazil less than a year after leaving office.

María Elva Pinckert
Official portrait, 2018
Minister of Environment and Water
In office 13 November 2019 – 6 November 2020
President	Jeanine Áñez
Preceded by	Carlos Ortuño [es]
Succeeded by	Juan Santos Cruz
Senator for Santa Cruz
In office 18 January 2015 – 13 November 2019
Substitute	Carlos Pablo Klinsky
Preceded by	Isaac Ávalos
Succeeded by	Carlos Pablo Klinsky
Substitute Senator for Santa Cruz
In office 25 January 2010 – 10 July 2014
Senator	Germán Antelo
Preceded by	María Silvia Baldomar
Succeeded by	Fátima Doly Velarde
Personal details
Born	María Elva Pinckert Vaca (1961-01-15) 15 January 1961 (age 63) Montero, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Political party	Social Democratic Movement (2014–present)
Other political affiliations	Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (before 2004) New Republican Force (2004–2010) New Civic Power (2010–2014)
Alma mater	Private Technological University of Santa Cruz (BSL)
Occupation	Lawyer politician
Signature

Early life and career

María Elva Pinckert was born on 15 January 1961 in Montero, Santa Cruz, to Eduardo Pinckert and Elva Vaca. She completed her primary education at the San Silvestre and Guabirá schools, later attending the María Auxiliadora School before graduating from the American Institute in Cochabamba. Coming out of high school, Pinckert studied law at the Private Technological University of Santa Cruz, graduating with a degree in legal sciences with specialization in municipal matters and autonomous processes.^[1][2]

Pinckert developed her career in the Integrated North, the primary agro-industrial region of Santa Cruz.^[3][4] She got her start in local civic associations, serving as president of the Montero Parents' Union from 1990 to 1996 and vice president of the city's women's Rotary Club, also in 1996. Between 1995 and 1996, Pinckert held office as vice president of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Industry and Commerce, later presiding over the Montero Civic Committee through the late 1990s, two posts of particular importance, demonstrating her rise to positions of regional economic and political influence.^[5]

Political career

In 1999, Pinckert moved into local politics, motivated by the murder of her brother, who was unable to receive the necessary intensive care due to the lack of medical units in the region.^[6] In that year's municipal elections, she ran on the top of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR)'s electoral list for a seat on the Montero Municipal Council. "One of my demands [to accept the nomination] was to build an intensive care unit in Montero; they offered me heaven and earth, that it was to be done ... from the municipal administration; it was not like that". Though elected as a substitute councillor, she held the primary seat as the original incumbent held the mayor's office.^{[lower-greek 1]} Nearing the end of her term, Pinckert split with the MNR, joining the New Republican Force (NFR) and contesting the 2004 municipal elections as the party's mayoral candidate. She attained fifth place, owing to the NFR's minimal presence in the department, though still with a vote share high enough to maintain her seat in the municipal council. For the majority of her second term, Pinckert also served as the president of the Association of Municipalities of Santa Cruz.^[5][6]

Pinckert stepped into national politics upon the completion of her second municipal term, joining the National Convergence (CN) ticket, which ran the NFR's leader, Manfred Reyes Villa, for the presidency.^[7] She was elected as a substitute senator for Santa Cruz, serving under Germán Antelo.^[8] In early 2010, before even being sworn into the new legislature, Pinckert split with the NFR, joining New Civic Power (NPC), a regional civic group founded by Antelo that brought together a large contingent of CN's Santa Cruz delegation.^[9][10] The creation of NPC illustrated the centrifugal process within the CN caucus that ultimately led to its implosion and the dispersion of its elected parliamentarians to different fronts, owing to a lack of shared leadership and political vision between its members.^[11] The volatility of political acronyms experienced by the opposition meant that Pinckert's membership within NPC did not last long either. By the time of the 2014 general elections, she had moved to Rubén Costas' Social Democratic Movement (MDS), which nominated her for reelection, this time as a titular senator.^[12][13] During her term in the Senate, Pinckert focused her work on environmental issues, serving on the upper chamber's Environment, Biodiversity, Amazon, Protected Areas, and Climate Change Committee.^[14]

Minister of Environment

Nearing the end of 2019, following that year's political crisis and the establishment of the transitional government of Jeanine Áñez, Pinckert was appointed by the new president to serve as minister of environment and water. Per Opinión's analysis of the Áñez Cabinet, Pinckert's designation would have come at the behest of Ernesto Suárez [es], former governor of Beni and Áñez's political boss.^[15] Pinckert's relationship with Áñez stemmed back nearly a decade, with both having served together in the Senate for two legislative terms.^[16]

One of the most pressing concerns for the Ministry of Environment during Pinckert's tenure was to address the aftermath of the Amazon rainforest wildfires that scorched the region between July and October, particularly affecting the tropical Chiquitania.^[17] Pinckert spoke of the issue in her address to that year's United Nations Climate Change Conference, blaming the previous government's "inadequate environmental policy" for causing Bolivia to have the highest deforestation rate per capita, more than double that of neighboring countries.^[18] In mid-December, Pinckert presented the Comprehensive Plan for the Restoration of the Chiquitania, which sought the participation of environmentalists and other experts in workshopping health, housing, productive development, and education policies related to the region.^[17] Continued environmental efforts resulted in the signing of an agreement with the Piraí River Water Channeling and Regularization Service (SEARPI) in August 2020 for the reforestation and repopulation of the Chiquitania. The agreement saw the Ministry of Environment and SEARPI invest a joint Bs 10 million to conduct work across at least 170,000 hectares.^[19]

Flight from the country

As with the other ministers of the Áñez Cabinet, Pinckert resigned from office two days before the formal conclusion of the transitional government's mandate, retiring to her residence in Santa Cruz.^[20] Not long thereafter, the Prosecutor's Office opened two investigations into her, one for breach of duties and another for making illegal government appointments. In the first, Pinckert was accused of conducting official trips without valid justifications as to how they related to her ministerial duties. For this, she was cited to testify on 31 March 2021, though she did not attend, attesting that the recent death of her husband left her too depressed to present herself. In response, the Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant against Pinckert, opening a migratory alert to prevent her from leaving the country.^[21][22]

The Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee denounced the government's decision to seek Pinckert's arrest, labeling it an act of political persecution.^[23] For her part, Pinckert declared herself in hiding, assuring that she was "willing to stand before justice when justice is fair again".^[24] On her behalf, the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee issued a missive to the government of Brazil, requesting that it grant Pinckert political asylum until "an independent and impartial judicial system is achieved".^[25] Brazilian authorities accepted their request, granting Pinckert entry for a period of ninety days pending a formal review by the Brazilian National Refugee Commission on whether to grant her permanent political asylum.^[26]

Electoral history

Electoral history of María Elva Pinckert

Year	Office	Party		Alliance		Votes			Result	Ref.
						Total	%	P.
1999	Sub. Councillor		Revolutionary Nationalist Movement	None		7,279	37.34%	1st	Won	[27][lower-greek 2]
2004	Mayor[lower-greek 1]		New Republican Force	None		1,666	6.90%	5th	Partial	[29][lower-greek 2]
2009	Sub. Senator		New Republican Force		National Convergence	567,974	52.60%	1st	Won	[30][lower-greek 2]
2014	Senator		Social Democratic Movement		Democratic Unity	506,704	39.82%	2nd	Won	[31][lower-greek 2]
Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ | Electoral Atlas

References

Notes

1. Per Article 3 Section VI of the 1967 Constitution with amendments from 1995, individuals who appear at the top of a party's electoral list of councillors are also that party's candidate for mayor.^[28]
2. Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.

Footnotes

1. "Pinckert es la nueva ministra de Medio Ambiente y Aguas". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 13 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
2. Tiempo & Espacio 2016, p. 29.
3. "Norte integrado, región pujante de Santa Cruz". UNITEL (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 9 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
4. Tiempo & Espacio 2016, p. 30.
5. Romero Ballivián 2018, p. 459.
6. Tiempo & Espacio 2016, p. 28.
7. "Lista de Candidatos y Candidatas: Elecciones Generales 2009" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. 2009. pp. 1, 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
8. "Lista de Candidatos y Candidatas Electos: Elecciones Generales 2009" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. 2009. p. 11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
9. Staff writer (2 January 2010). Written at Santa Cruz de la Sierra. "Germán Antelo presenta agrupación política 'Nuevo Poder Ciudadano'". Opinión (in Spanish). Cochabamba. Agencia de Noticias Fides. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
10. Ruiz, Igor (7 March 2010). "Pugna. Sigue el suspenso para elegir la directiva de la brigada cruceña". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 3 February 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2022 – via eju!.
11. Romero Ballivián 2018, pp. 44, 443.
12. Aguilar Agramont, Ricardo (2 February 2014). "CN, los divergentes se alojan en el MDS y en el Frente Amplio". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022. ... entre los que se sumaron a los 'demócratas' está la suplente de Antelo, María Elva Pinckert.
13. "Tres senadores de oposición presentaron su renuncia para candidatear en las elecciones". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 10 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
14. "Gabinete de Jeanine Áñez: Conoce uno a uno a los ministros de Estado". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
15. Revollo P., Melissa (7 December 2019). "Hay siete personas que deciden en el Gobierno transitorio de Áñez". Opinión (in Spanish). Cochabamba. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
16. "Las mujeres de confianza en la labor presidencial". El Deber (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
17. "Arranca la elaboración del plan para la Chiquitania". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 17 December 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
18. "Pinckert en COP25: Bolivia tiene la deforestación per cápita más alta de la región, por políticas en gobierno de Evo" (in Spanish). La Paz. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
19. "Gobierno firma un convenio con Searpi para la reforestación de la Chiquitania". Los Tiempos (in Spanish). Cochabamba. Agencia Boliviana de Información. 23 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
20. "En un clima hostil, gobierno de Añez deja sus funciones antes de entregar el mando". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 7 November 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
21. "Notifican a exministra Elva Pinckert por dos denuncias". ATB (in Spanish). La Paz. 31 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
22. Castel, Jorge (1 April 2021). "La Fiscalía emite una orden de aprehensión contra la exministra Pinckert". La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
23. "Cívicos al Gobierno: No jueguen con fuego, se van a quemar". Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
24. "La exministra Pinckert pide asilo y se declara 'perseguida política del MAS'". Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 4 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022. 'Estoy dispuesta a presentarme ante la justicia cuando esta vuelva a ser imparcial', agregó Pinckert.
25. "Cívicos de Santa Cruz piden a Brasil otorgar asilo a la exministra Pinckert" (in Spanish). La Paz. Urgente.bo. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022. 'Entre tanto se logre la reestructuración de un Sistema de Justicia independiente e imparcial, ... Conceda asilo político a favor de María Elva Pinckert de Paz', dice la misiva dirigida al presidente brasileño.
26. "Brasil otorga asilo temporal a la exministra de Áñez María Elva Pinckert, requerida por la Justicia de Bolivia". Europa Press (in Spanish). Madrid. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
27. "Elecciones Municipales 1999 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
28. "Constitución Política del Estado de 1995". lexivox.org (in Spanish). La Paz. 6 February 1995. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
29. "Elecciones Municipales 2004 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
30. "Elecciones Generales 2009 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
31. "Elecciones Generales 2014 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Plurinational Electoral Organ. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.

Bibliography

• Tiempo & Espacio (2016). "María Elva Pinckert: Trabajadora, Honesta, y Positiva". construirtiempoyespacio.com (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. pp. 28–30.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
• Romero Ballivián, Salvador (2018). Quiroga Velasco, Camilo Sergio (ed.). Diccionario Biográfico de Parlamentarios 1979–2019 (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). La Paz: Fundación de Apoyo al Parlamento y la Participación Ciudadana; Fundación Konrad Adenauer. p. 459. ISBN 978-99974-0-021-5. OCLC 1050945993 – via ResearchGate.

External links

• Parliamentary profile (2010) Office of the Vice President (in Spanish).
• Parliamentary profile (2015) Office of the Vice President (in Spanish).
• Parliamentary profile Chamber of Senators (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 November 2019.
• Ministerial profile Ministry of Environment and Water (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 21 November 2019.