Morales' Environment Minister Resigns amid Bolivia Water Crisis

Bolivian Environment and Water Minister Alexandra Moreira resigned Wednesday amid criticism of her handling of the worst drought Bolivia has suffered in the past 25 years.

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Moreira was expected to attend a hearing Wednesday at the National Assembly to answer questions on the water rationing program to address the shortages in the country, proposed by the government of Evo Morales.

"I have presented my resignation and it has been accepted," said Moreira to journalists in the capital city of La Paz. "Having presented it and being accepted it's not longer my responsibility to attend the hearing."

According to Moreira, the Ministry had presented 10 written reports to the country's National Assembly, with detailed data on the contingency plan that has aimed to ensure that the citizens have access to water.

Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera, head of the National Assembly, suspended the hearing until a new minister takes office.

"All the relevant information has been sent, one of the requests for a written report sent to the Ministry of the Environment is the same one as the questions of the programmed hearing, so we have complied with informing the Assembly in detail," Moreira said.

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Opposition politicians claim that the minister's resignation, an acknowledgment that she wasn't able to effectively tackle the water crisis, is only a political statement.

Fernanda San Martin, an opposition lawmaker, said the legislative branch will take legal actions against the minister for not attending the hearing, even though she is no longer the head of the Environment and Water Ministry.

Martin also demanded, taking the name of the entire assembly, the resignation of vice minister of Water Ruben Mendez, arguing that the shortages are also his responsibility.

Moreira said that since November, the water supply service has improved and now reaches the 94 neighborhoods in La Paz that were affected by the severe lack of rain, as part of the government's emergency program.

The particularly strong El Niño climatic effect in the last season — which, together with raging climate change, has put 2017 on track to smash the record as the hottest year — has worsened the drought parching Bolivia.

Many have also raised questions about the role of Bolivia’s mining and extractive sector in worsening the impacts of climate change.