Patricia Gómez

Bolivian politician (born 1971)

Patricia Gómez
Headshot of Patricia Gómez
Official portrait, 2018
Senator for Chuquisaca
In office
18 January 2015 – 3 November 2020
SubstituteJorge Ordóñez
Preceded byJimena Torres
Succeeded bySantiago Ticona
Personal details
Born
Patricia Mercedes Gómez Andrade

(1971-05-14) 14 May 1971 (age 53)
Sucre, Bolivia
Political partyChristian Democratic (2014–2016)
Alma materUniversity of San Francisco Xavier
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician
  • psychologist
SignatureCursive signature in ink

Patricia Mercedes Gómez Andrade (born 14 May 1971) is a Bolivian lawyer, politician, and psychologist who served as senator for Chuquisaca from 2015 to 2020.

Born and educated in Sucre, Gómez spent her career as an organizer and consultant for non-governmental organizations, with stints as a social worker, family lawyer, and general psychologist intermixed. She gained prominence in women's rights circles for her collaboration with entities such as the Juana Azurduy Center and other non-profits, as well as with faith-based groups, including Catholics for the Right to Choose [es].

Gómez was one of two elected senators from the Christian Democratic Party in the 2014 elections. Entering office in 2015, she led the party's Senate parliamentary group in 2016 but was expelled from the caucus the same year over her support of government-backed changes to parliamentary procedure. Independent for the duration of her term, Gómez did not seek reelection and left office in 2020.

Early life and career

Early life and education

Patricia Gómez was born on 14 May 1971 in Sucre.[1] She attended primary and early secondary at the María Auxiliadora Education Unit, followed by the state school Simón Rodríguez for the duration of secondary.[2] After that, Gómez enrolled at the University of San Francisco Xavier, where she studied law and psychology.[1]

Gómez graduated as a practicing lawyer and psychologist[1] – with postgraduate diplomas in national women's rights legislation from Siglo XX University, Potosí; gender and domestic violence from Franz Tamayo University, Cochabamba; and couples' counseling from the Venezuela Center for Psychological, Psychiatric, and Sexological Research.[2]

Career and activism

A self-declared "feminist since her youth",[3] Gómez spent much of her career in the fields of women's and youth rights.[1] She got her start in broadcasting, directing the program Revista Juvenil for Sucre-based station Radio Loyola from 1991 to 1994. Between 1994 and 1995, Gómez worked as a legal assistant at the Juana Azurduy Center and was a facilitator for different programs sponsored by the organization throughout the mid-to-late 1990s.[2]

As a consultant, Gómez collaborated with a number of non-governmental organizations and non-profits dedicated to women's rights, including CARE International, Family Care International, Marie Stopes International, and Pro Mujer. During this time, she organized and headlined several conferences, seminars, and workshops covering women's issues.[4]

Outside of activism, Gómez spent a stint as a government-employed social worker from 1998 to 1999 before shifting to private sector service. She spent a decade as a family lawyer from 2005 to 2015 and worked as a general psychologist from 2012 to 2015.[2]

Chamber of Senators

Election

The Christian Democratic Party (PDC) presented Gómez as its ticket-heading Senate candidate for Chuquisaca in September 2014.[5][α] Gómez's political experience prior to that point was limited;[β] the nomination, rather, was a recognition of her prominence in regional women's organizations[5] – including faith-based ones, such as Catholics for the Right to Choose [es].[1][γ] For the 2014 campaign, the Christian conservative PDC had sought to broaden its appeal toward women: Tomasa Yarhui was the front's vice-presidential candidate, and the party's platform promoted the establishment of a women's government ministry and ombudsman's office.[8] In a tight race, the PDC narrowly beat out rival Democratic Unity (UD) for second place, displacing former prefect Savina Cuéllar and making Gómez the department's lone opposition senator[9] – one of two within the PDC bench, alongside Víctor Hugo Zamora.[10][δ]

Tenure

Led by Zamora – a skilled negotiator considered pragmatic toward the government[11] – the PDC in the Senate centered its focus on oversight [es] and foreign relations. The party tapped Gómez to chair the chamber's International Policy Commission, a post she wrested control of from UD – the larger opposition front – with the votes of the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS).[12] She went on to head the commission for the duration of her tenure, with intermissions in 2017 and 2018 to occupy the PDC's sole seat on the Senate's governing directorate.[13]

Gómez was the PDC's representative on the Senate Ethics Commission from 2015 to 2016.[14] Appointed leader of the PDC parliamentary group in 2016,[15] she was ratified on the Ethics Commission that May.[16] Decisions taken by Gómez from this position generated tensions within her caucus. In September, she joined the MAS in approving amendments to the body's regulations, which – among other things – obligated senators with pending legal sentences in the appeals process to request temporary leave.[17] Gómez defended the new norm, stating that legislators should be "grateful" for the "possibility" to remain in office after an initial sentence.[18] Opponents, however, criticized it as a means for the ruling party to oust its critics from office.[17]

For her stance on the controversial rules change, Gómez was expelled from the PDC.[19] Further threats to unseat her never panned out,[20] though members of the party did lodge complaints against her with the Ethics Commission.[21] Faced with discontent from within its own ranks, the MAS ultimately repealed the articles in question.[22] Gómez – who remained an independent for the rest of her tenure – served another term on the Ethics Commission in 2019 and later backed similar legislation prohibiting individuals with legal sentences for violence against women from serving as civil servants.[23]

Gómez presides the Senate's directorate.

Disillusioned and with a certain "cynicism" toward parliamentary governance, Gómez declined to seek reelection, stating that she "would not like to continue in politics".[24] Given their schism, the PDC opted not to re-nominate her, either in the 2019 or 2020 elections.[25] She served out the remainder of her term as vice president of Chuquisaca's parliamentary delegation from 2019 until she left office in 2020.[26]

Commission assignments

  • Chamber of Senators Directorate (Second Secretary: 2017–2019)[27]
  • International Policy Commission (President: 2015–2017, 2019–2020)[28]
  • Ethics and Transparency Commission (2015–2016, 2016–2017, 2019–2020)[29]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Patricia Gómez
Year Office Party Votes Result Ref.
Total % P.
2014 Senator Christian Democratic 44,671 17.08% 2nd Won [30][ε]
Source: Plurinational Electoral Organ | Electoral Atlas

References

Notes

  1. ^ The PDC's original nominee, María Teresa Rivero Gutiérrez, was eliminated from contention by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.[6]
  2. ^ She had previously provided consultancy services to the Vice Ministry of Early Childhood Education.[2]
  3. ^ During the campaign, Gómez moderated her stance on abortion and avoided making clear statements on whether she was pro-choice or pro-life. She affirmed the limited legal right to an abortion under Bolivia's antiquated penal code while maintaining that "the debate is not over".[7]
  4. ^ The PDC's total membership in the Senate amounted to four: Gómez, Zamora, and their respective substitutes.
  5. ^ Presented on an electoral list. The data shown represents the share of the vote the entire party/alliance received in that constituency.

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e La Cámara 2016, p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c d e Perfil Senado 2019.
  3. ^ Correo del Sur 2014b.
  4. ^ La Cámara 2016, p. 8; Perfil Senado 2019.
  5. ^ a b Correo del Sur 2014a.
  6. ^ OEP 2014, p. 8.
  7. ^ ERBOL 2014; Página Siete 2014.
  8. ^ Oxígeno 2014.
  9. ^ Correo del Sur 2014c; La Razón 2014.
  10. ^ Romero Ballivián 2018, pp. 651, 256.
  11. ^ El País 2019a; El País 2019b.
  12. ^ El Día 2015.
  13. ^ Protagonistas 2020, p. 5.
  14. ^ La Razón 2015.
  15. ^ Prensa Senado 2016a.
  16. ^ Oxígeno 2016.
  17. ^ a b Opinión 2016.
  18. ^ Página Siete 2016.
  19. ^ Correo del Sur 2016.
  20. ^ Noticias Fides 2016.
  21. ^ ERBOL 2016.
  22. ^ La Patria 2016, p. 6.
  23. ^ Correo del Sur 2019a.
  24. ^ Protagonistas 2020, pp. 5–6.
  25. ^ OEP 2019, p. 1; OEP 2020, p. 1.
  26. ^ Correo del Sur 2019b; Correo del Sur 2020.
  27. ^ Prensa Senado 2017; Prensa Senado 2018.
  28. ^ Prensa Senado 2015a; Prensa Senado 2016b; Prensa Senado 2019a; Prensa Senado 2019b; Prensa Senado 2020a; Prensa Senado 2020b.
  29. ^ Prensa Senado 2015b; Prensa Senado 2016c; Prensa Senado 2019c.
  30. ^ Atlas Electoral 2014.

Works cited

Online and list sources

  • "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2015–2016". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 July 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2016–2017". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 24 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
    • Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional [@SenadoBolivia] (20 November 2019). "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023 – via Twitter.
    • Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional [@SenadoBolivia] (29 January 2020). "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2023 – via Twitter.
    • Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional [@SenadoBolivia] (10 June 2020). "Comisiones y Comités: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020" (Tweet) (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  • "Comisión de Ética y Transparencia: Gestión Legislativa 2015–2016". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Comisión de Ética y Transparencia: Gestión Legislativa 2016–2017". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Comisión de Ética y Transparencia: Gestión Legislativa 2019–2020". senado.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Directiva Camaral: Gestión Legislativa 2016–2017". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 20 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • "Directiva Camaral: Gestión Legislativa 2017–2018". senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 19 January 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Directiva Camaral: Gestión Legislativa 2018–2019". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Elecciones Generales 2014 | Atlas Electoral". atlaselectoral.oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Órgano Electoral Plurinacional. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Lista de candidaturas inhabilitadas de las organizaciones políticas y alianzas: Partido Demócrata Cristiano" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Órgano Electoral Plurinacional. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Lista final de candidaturas habilitadas de las organizaciones políticas y alianzas: Partido Demócrata Cristiano" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). Órgano Electoral Plurinacional. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • "Lista final de candidaturas habilitadas de las organizaciones políticas y alianzas: Creemos" (PDF). oep.org.bo (in Spanish). Órgano Electoral Plurinacional. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • "Patricia Mercedes Gómez Andrade". web.senado.gob.bo (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

Digital and print publications

  • "Brigada: Nueva directiva busca agenda a largo plazo" [Delegation: New Directorate Seeks Long-Term Agenda]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. Archived from the original on 5 February 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • Campos, Evelyn (12 October 2019). "Mujeres renuevan luchas" [Women Renew Commitments]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • Cantín, Jesús (29 April 2019). "Zamora: 'UNIR reservará sus mejores cartas para las elecciones en los municipios'" [Zamora: "UNIR Will Reserve Its Best Cards for the Municipal Elections"]. El País (in Spanish). Tarija. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  • "La Comisión de Ética aprueba pedido obligatorio de licencia" [Ethics Commission Approves Mandatory Leave for Prosecuted Senators]. Opinión (in Spanish). Cochabamba. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Denuncian a senadora del PDC por uso indebido de vehículo" [PDC Senator Denounced for Improper Use of Government Vehicle] (in Spanish). La Paz. ERBOL. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Desisten aprobar artículo que obligaba a senadores con sentencia a pedir licencia" [MAS Bench Withdraws Approval of Article That Required Senators with Sentences to Request Leave]. La Patria (in Spanish). Oruro. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 17 September 2016. p. 6. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • Donoso, Yuvert (16 October 2014). "Chuquisaca: El PDC gana un senador" [Chuquisaca: The PDC Wins One Senator]. La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  • "Evo Morales y el MAS avanzan en Sucre" [Evo Morales and the MAS Advance in Sucre]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). La Paz. 13 October 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • "Expulsan a Gómez del PDC por modificar reglamento" [Gómez Is Expelled from the PDC for Modifying the Regulations]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Gómez es la candidata a senadora del PDC" [Gómez Is the PDC's Candidate for Senator]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Legisladora del PDC: Senadores con sentencia deben agradecer la 'posibilidad' de pedir licencia" [PDC Legislator: Senators with Sentences Should Be Grateful for the 'Possibility' of Requesting Leave]. Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • Lindo, Elmira (17 November 2019). "Las sorpresas del Ojorico" [The Surprises of Ojorico]. El País (in Spanish). Tarija. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  • Luizaga, Dennis (28 May 2015). "Senadores conforman su Comisión de Ética" [Senators Form Their Ethics Commission]. La Razón (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  • Maldonado, Laura (21 September 2014). "El PDC propone el Ministerio y la Defensoría de la Mujer para frenar la violencia" [To Curb Violence, the PDC Proposes a Women's Ministry and Ombudsman]. Oxígeno (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 13 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  • "MAS deja tres diputados y un senador a la oposición" [MAS Leaves Three Deputies and One Senator to the Opposition]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 16 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • Mercado, Jimena (30 January 2015). "PDC y UD se confrontan por las comisiones" [PDC and UD Confront Each Other over Commissions]. El Día (in Spanish). Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Patricia Gómez y Mirtha Arce completan Comisión de Ética del Senado" [Patricia Gómez and Mirtha Arce Complete the Senate Ethics Commission]. Oxígeno (in Spanish). La Paz. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "Patricia Mercedes Gómez Andrade: Senadora por Chuquisaca (PDC)" [Patricia Mercedes Gómez Andrade: Senator for Chuquisaca (PDC)]. La Cámara (in Spanish). La Paz: Cámara de Senadores del Estado Plurinacional. April 2016. p. 8 – via the Internet Archive.
  • "Patricia Mercedes Gómez, senadora por el PDC: 'El patriarcado está dejando a las mujeres empoderadas más solas y vulnerables'" [Patricia Mercedes Gómez, Senator for the PDC: "Patriarchy Is Leaving Empowered Women More Alone and Vulnerable"] (PDF). Protagonistas (in Spanish). No. 1. La Paz. April 2020. pp. 5–6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  • "PDC advierte a senadora Gómez con expulsarla y quitarle su curul por apoyar Reglamento de Ética del MAS" [PDC Threatens to Expel and Unseat Senator Gómez for Supporting the MAS Ethics Regulations] (in Spanish). La Paz. Agencia de Noticias Fides. 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "PVB plantea seguir con el debate sobre aborto y PDC afirma que ya se lo reconoce" [PVB Proposes Continuing the Debate on Abortion, PDC Affirms That It Is Already Recognized] (in Spanish). La Paz. ERBOL. 27 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • "¿Qué pasó con los senadores y diputados salientes de Chuquisaca?" [What Happened to the Outgoing Senators and Deputies of Chuquisaca?]. Correo del Sur (in Spanish). Sucre. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  • Vacaflor, Nancy (27 September 2014). "Tres partidos plantean reabrir el debate sobre el aborto" [Three Parties Propose Reopening the Debate on Abortion]. Página Siete (in Spanish). La Paz. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.

Books and encyclopedias

  • Romero Ballivián, Salvador (2018). Quiroga Velasco, Camilo (ed.). Diccionario biográfico de parlamentarios 1979–2019 (in Spanish) (2nd ed.). La Paz: FUNDAPPAC; Fundación Konrad Adenauer. p. 256. ISBN 978-99974-0-021-5. OCLC 1050945993 – via the Internet Archive.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patricia Gómez.
  • Parliamentary profile Office of the Vice President (in Spanish).
  • Parliamentary profile Chamber of Senators (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 November 2019.
Offices and distinctions
Senate of Bolivia
Preceded by
Jimena Torres
 Senator for Chuquisaca
2015–2020
Served alongside: Milton Barón [es],
Nélida Sifuentes, Omar Aguilar 		Succeeded by
Santiago Ticona
Preceded by Second Secretary of the Senate
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Senate
Christian Democratic Party Caucus
2016–2017 		Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
List 1
  • ▌Quinteros
  • ▌Kolle
  • ▌Humboldt
  • ▌Cabezas
  • ▌Garrett
  • ▌Paz
  • ▌Barrios
  • ▌Díaz
  • ▌Martínez [es]
  • ▌Barón [es]
  • ▌Padilla
List 2
  • ▌Garrett
  • ▌Quiroga
  • ▌Ramírez
  • ▌Carvajal
  • ▌Ipiña
  • ▌Encinas
  • ▌Urquidi
  • ▌Ortiz [es]
  • ▌Sifuentes
  • ▌Mendoza
  • ▌Sifuentes
  • ▌Aguirre
  • ▌Rocha
List 3
  • ▌Kolle
  • ▌Garrett
  • ▌Cabezas
  • ▌Vargas
  • ▌Encinas
  • ▌Toro
  • ▌López
  • ▌Rodríguez
  • ▌Sánchez
  • ▌Aguilar
  • ▌Salame
List 4
  • ▌Ortiz [es]
  • ▌Torres
  • ▌Gómez
  • ▌Ticona
  • v
  • t
  • e
Chuquisaca's delegation to the 2nd Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia
Senate
Primary
  • ▌ M Barón [es] (MAS)
  • ▌ N. Sifuentes (MAS)
  • ▌ O. Aguilar (MAS)
  • ▌ P. Gómez (PDC)
Substitute
  • ▌ D. Cumandiri (MAS)
  • ▌ V. Aguirre (MAS)
  • ▌ J. Felípez (MAS)
  • ▌ J. Ordóñez (PDC)
Deputies
Party list
Primary
  • ▌ A. Canqui (MAS)
  • ▌ M. Mita (MAS)
  • ▌ C. Domínguez (MAS)
  • ▌ Y. Yarhui (PDC)
  • ▌ L. Millares (UD)
Substitute
  • ▌ E. Callejas (MAS)
  • ▌ M. Falon (MAS)
  • ▌ A. Villca (MAS)
  • ▌ L. F. Paz (PDC)
  • ▌ O. Urquizu (UD)
Single-member
Primary
  • ▌ H. Poppe (PDC)
  • ▌ F. Cuellar (MAS)
  • ▌ F. Málaga (MAS)
  • ▌ B. Velásquez (MAS)
  • ▌ A. Villarpando (MAS)
Substitute
  • ▌ V. Mostajo (PDC)
  • ▌ E. Zenteno (MAS)
  • ▌ F. Gutiérrez (MAS)
  • ▌ A. Durán (MAS)
  • ▌ F. Torrejon (MAS)
Portals:
  • Biography
  • flag Bolivia
  • icon Catholicism
  • Feminism
  • icon Politics