Bolivia's Ministry of Finance outlines draft law to suspend social-interest housing foreclosures and defer small-borrower repayments for six months

Bolivia's Ministry of Finance reported that President Luis Arce has submitted a draft bill to the Plurinational Legislative Assembly that would provide temporary relief to two borrower groups by pausing enforcement actions on social-interest housing loans and allowing a six-month deferral of debt payments for micro economic units and medium-capacity borrowers facing repayment difficulties. Finance Minister Marcelo Montenegro said the proposal would suspend for six months financial executions affecting families with social-interest housing credits, many of whom are already in processes that could lead to loss of their homes. The same six-month period would apply to the proposed deferral of payments for small borrowers. The ministry stressed that the measure is targeted and temporary, does not amount to debt forgiveness or intervention in contracts between borrowers and financial institutions, and is intended to avoid wider social and economic harm without undermining the stability of the financial system. The bill is now before the Plurinational Legislative Assembly for legislative consideration.