Rubén Costas

Rubén Costas Armando Aguilera ( born October 6, 1955 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra ) is a Bolivian politician and elected prefect of the department of Santa Cruz. He is married to Sonia Vincenti and father of four children of Reuben, Nicolas, Jose Gustavo y Leonardo.

Political career

Costas is a professional agronomist. He was head of the "League of ranchers of Bolivia " ( Confederación de Ganaderos de Bolivia ), the " Association of Milk Producers " ( Asociación de Productores de Leche ), the " Chamber of Agriculture of the East" ( Cámara Agropecuaria del Oriente (CAO )) and the " Civic Committee of Santa Cruz " (Comité Civico de Santa Cruz ) in the years 2003 and 2004.

At the presidential elections of 18 December 2005, the first of the nine departments of Bolivia prefects were elected directly by the people. Originally, this was not intended by the Constitution and the Bolivian President appointed prefects. After negotiations, the Bolivian Parliament voted in favor of a law for the direct election of prefects.

Since his election to Costas developed for conservative opponents of same elected President and leader of the Socialist Party Bolivian Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS ), Evo Morales.

Costas then drives forward the efforts of the Department of Santa Cruz for internal autonomy. In Bolivia seek the richer eastern departments of Bolivia's lowlands, the so-called " Media Luna", for more independence from the central government. See: Bolivia: Domestic political tensions