Recordings allegedly linking Argentine political strategist Fernando Cerimedo to President Rodrigo Paz’s inner circle have yet to be authenticated.

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Bolivia’s main parliamentary opposition force has called for an immediate prosecutorial investigation into leaked recordings allegedly linking Argentine political strategist Fernando Cerimedo to President Rodrigo Paz’s government, including one purportedly capturing a conversation with First Lady María Elena Urquidi.

RELATED: Bolivian VP Formally Accuses First Lady and Cerimedo of Influence Peddling

Lissa Claros, head of the Libre Alliance caucus in the lower house, called on prosecutors Wednesday to appoint a special team to establish the authenticity of the recordings, which have circulated in recent months, and clarify Cerimedo’s role in the administration.

“The recordings keep emerging every day, yet the Public Prosecutor’s Office has not issued a statement. Do they want the Cerimedo case to go unpunished? Bolivia needs to know what role Mr. Cerimedo played,” Claros said. “Was he the one running the state from the shadows, or not?”

Claros insisted that the investigation must be impartial and that everyone should be subject to scrutiny, including the president’s wife.

El agente argentino de la derecha latinoamericana Fernando Cerimedo era el "presidente en la sombra" de Bolivia: ponía y sacaba ministros a su antojo y todos los directores del Estado le respondían, reveló su exesposa Nadia Beller. 🇧🇴🗣️ #teleSUR #12Oct pic.twitter.com/1S11od16En

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) October 12, 2026

Text ReadsArgentine agent of the Latin American right Fernando Cerimedo was the “shadow president” of Bolivia: he appointed and removed ministers at will, and all the state directors answered to him, revealed his ex-wife Nadia Beller. 🇧🇴🗣️

One of the recordings purportedly captures a conversation between Cerimedo and Urquidi about government affairs. Its authenticity has not been established through official forensic examinations.

The leaked material has fueled scrutiny of Cerimedo’s reported ties to Paz’s inner circle and his alleged influence within the executive branch. The allegations have also drawn on statements and recordings released by Cerimedo’s former partner, lawyer Nadia Beller, remarks by Vice President Edmand Lara, an opposition figure, and reports in local media.

Cerimedo has been held in pretrial detention in Bolivia since August following a shooting attack by hired gunmen targeting Beller. He faces formal charges of attempted femicide as the alleged intellectual author of the attack, as well as separate proceedings over alleged domestic and family violence against Beller and alleged illicit enrichment.

Cerimedo’s political activities across Latin America have also come under scrutiny. In Brazil, he promoted a false narrative of electoral fraud in 2022. In Argentina, he played a significant role in the digital strategy for Javier Milei’s 2023 presidential campaign.

His company was also linked to disinformation operations during Chile’s constitutional referendum campaign, in which the Rejection bloc opposed the proposed constitution. His reported political connections extend to Argentine politician Patricia Bullrich, Honduran politician Nasry Asfura and other right-wing figures in the region.

In Bolivia, Cerimedo reportedly joined Paz’s political circle as an adviser, a relationship now at the center of questions raised by the leaked recordings.

Libre’s call for a formal investigation comes as the recordings remain unauthenticated, leaving allegations about Cerimedo’s role in the government unresolved.

Leaked recordings allegedly detail a $600,000-plus operation to capture Evo Morales, but their authenticity remains unverified.

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Bolivian lawmakers from several political parties are demanding an impartial investigation into audio recordings allegedly detailing a plan to abduct former President Evo Morales, including the procurement of surveillance equipment, contacts with foreign actors and a budget of up to 8 million bolivianos ($685,000).

RELATED: Judge Rules There Is No Evidence Against Evo Morales in Child Abuse Case

The recordings, attributed to former consultant Fernando Cerimedo, reportedly outline an operation targeting Morales in the Chapare region, his political stronghold. Their authenticity has not been officially verified by forensic authorities.

The allegations drew international attention after digital journalist Julián Macías Tovar published information about the recordings on X. According to the material circulated, Cerimedo allegedly traveled to the United States and Israel to arrange helicopters and specialized tracking equipment for an operation in the Chapare.

A voice attributed to Cerimedo can reportedly be heard discussing logistics with Public Works Minister Mauricio Zamora, including the acquisition of drones and specialized equipment.

The operation’s estimated cost was between 7 million and 8 million bolivianos, equivalent to approximately $600,000 to $685,000. In the recordings, the speaker allegedly offers to cover the entire cost informally and in US dollars. The audio also refers to a previous attempt in which those involved allegedly reached the second security perimeter around Morales, with support from purported foreign agents.

The allegations have prompted calls for accountability from across Bolivia’s political spectrum. Edgar Zegarra, a lawmaker from the Libre party, described the revelations as extremely serious and called for a transparent, balanced investigation free from political bias to establish responsibility.

Morales has also criticized what he described as the Public Prosecutor’s Office’s inaction, urging authorities to investigate the recordings. In a post on X, he asked: “What is new prosecutor José Armando Urioste waiting for to investigate Cerimedo’s new audios?”

Lawmakers want the investigation to establish whether the recordings are authentic, identify the source of the alleged operation’s funding and determine whether state resources or institutions were improperly used. They have also raised concerns about possible foreign interference.

Zamora has categorically denied the recordings’ authenticity, claiming they were manipulated and edited. However, in statements reported by the media outlet Fama, Poder y Ganas, he acknowledged having had previous telephone contact with Cerimedo.

The recordings’ origin and authenticity remain unverified by forensic authorities. The allegations have nevertheless intensified scrutiny of the security of Bolivia’s leading political figures and the country’s institutions amid deep political polarization.

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