Legislative Palace of Bolivia
Introduction
The Legislative Palace of the National Congress is an institutional building where the Congress of the Republic functioned from the early years of the twentieth century, as well as the Plurinational Legislative Assembly until 2021, when it was replaced by the Plurinational Legislative Assembly Building, built at the end of the 2010s.[1].
It is located in Plaza Murillo on the east sidewalk, sharing space with the new building, similar in appearance to the Palacio Quemado and Casa Grande del Pueblo.
In the Legislative Palace, ordinary and extraordinary sessions of the Bolivian Parliament were held, as well as transmissions of command from the presidents of Bolivia, and messages to Congress from the presidents of Bolivia.
History
Construction
After expropriating the land of the then Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto, at the beginning of the new twentieth century, under order of the Supreme Government of José Manuel Pando, the construction of the new legislative building was ordered.[2].
Replacement of the headquarters of the Bolivian parliament
Since August 2021, the Legislative Assembly has held sessions in the new building, leaving the old palace in disuse, with sporadic moments for its exhibition as a museum.[3].
The "Clock of the South"
In the first years of the application of the new Political Constitution of the State, promulgated in 2009, in 2014, a new reform was made to the Legislative Palace, with the establishment of the "Southern Clock". This clock had the characteristic of replacing the Romanesque numerals with conventional ones, and the inverted way of rotating the hands. For David Choquehuanca, who served as chancellor, he pointed out this modification to teach "that they can question established norms and think creatively."[4] Although this action was also taken advantage of with maritime demand.
After more than ten years that said clock was implemented, the modification imposed by the Movement to Socialism regime was removed, only the Arabic numerals that replaced the Roman numerals in the implementation of the Southern Clock are preserved, the hands of the clock go in a conventional way. This change was made on November 5, 2025, to the surprise of passers-by who work every day at the Government headquarters.[5].
References
- [1] ↑ HISTORICO, ABI USUARIO (29 de julio de 2021). «Diputados se despiden del histórico Palacio Legislativo, edificio que representa al Estado Republicano». ABI. Consultado el 16 de noviembre de 2025.: https://abi.bo/index.php/polititca2/9402-Diputados-se-despiden-del-hist%C3%B3rico-Palacio-Legislativo,-edificio-que-representa-al-Estado-Republicano
- [2] ↑ Mendoza, Luz (8 de agosto de 2021). «Antiguo Palacio Legislativo cierra ciclo marcado por al menos 5 hitos». eju.tv. Consultado el 16 de noviembre de 2025.: https://eju.tv/2021/08/antiguo-palacio-legislativo-cierra-ciclo-marcado-por-al-menos-5-hitos/
- [3] ↑ «El nuevo edificio del Legislativo será inaugurado en agosto y perfilan Sesión de Honor por el aniversario patrio». Erbol. 30 de junio de 2021. Consultado el 16 de noviembre de 2025.: https://erbol.com.bo/nacional/el-nuevo-edificio-del-legislativo-ser%C3%A1-inaugurado-en-agosto-y-perfilan-sesi%C3%B3n-de-honor-por
- [4] ↑ «Por qué el reloj del Congreso de Bolivia gira al revés». BBC News Mundo. 25 de junio de 2014. Consultado el 16 de noviembre de 2025.: https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2014/06/140625_bolivia_nuevo_reloj_izquierda_men
- [5] ↑ «Ponen fin al ‘reloj del sur’ en la Asamblea: las manecillas vuelven a girar a la derecha». Erbol. 6 de noviembre de 2025. Consultado el 16 de noviembre de 2025.: https://erbol.com.bo/nacional/ponen-fin-al-%E2%80%98reloj-del-sur%E2%80%99-en-la-asamblea-las-manecillas-vuelven-girar-la-derecha