Carlos Mesa Gisbert

president of Bolivia

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Carlos Mesa Gisbert served as the interim president of Bolivia from October 2003 to January 2006. He assumed the presidency following the resignation of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada amidst widespread protests and social unrest. Mesa's tenure was marked by continued demonstrations, particularly concerning the nationalization of the country's natural gas resources. Despite his efforts to revise hydrocarbon laws, he too resigned due to persistent public unrest. Prior to his presidency, Mesa was a historian and journalist, and he later ran for president again in the 2019 election, ultimately losing to Evo Morales.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Evo Morales
…a concession from his successor, Carlos Mesa Gisbert, to consider changes to the highly unpopular U.S.-backed campaign to eradicate illegal coca production.
Read More
…a concession from his successor, Carlos Mesa Gisbert, to consider changes to the highly unpopular U.S.-backed campaign to eradicate illegal coca production.
Read More

Bolivia
Bolivia in the 21st century
Carlos Mesa Gisbert. Mesa’s decision to revise the hydrocarbon law for natural gas deposits did not forestall violent demonstrations, and he, too, resigned.
Read More
Carlos Mesa Gisbert. Mesa’s decision to revise the hydrocarbon law for natural gas deposits did not forestall violent demonstrations, and he, too, resigned.
Read More