Gardenia Arauz
Gardenia Arauz | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2014 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies from Beni circumscription 63 | |
| In office 25 January 2010 – 14 July 2014 | |
| Deputy | Antonio Molina |
| Preceded by | Elvio Gil |
| Succeeded by | Circumscription abolished |
| Constituency | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | María Gardenia Arauz Menacho 13 March 1972 |
| Party | Third System Movement (2020–2021) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Occupation |
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María Gardenia Arauz Menacho (born 13 March 1972) is a Bolivian politician and trade unionist who served as a substitute member of the Chamber of Deputies from Beni, representing circumscription 63 from 2010 to 2014.
Born in San Borja, Arauz played an active role in union organizing around the Ballivián Province, culminating in her election as head of the region's peasants' federation in 2008. The wide-ranging alliance between the Movement for Socialism and the country's social movement organizations soon led her to join the party, and in 2009, she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in representation of it.
In the course of her tenure, Arauz grew disaffected by the stringent leadership structure of the ruling party. Together with other "freethinking" legislators, she formed her own front, Freedom of Though for Bolivia. As part of its alliance with the Fearless Movement, Arauz sought reelection in 2014 but failed to achieve it. A subsequent bid for deputy governor of the Ballivián Province in 2021 also did not pan out.