LA PAZ, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Bolivian President Luis Arce on Tuesday swore in Roberto Rios as his new government minister amid rising political tensions leading up to the Aug. 17 presidential race.

"Many groups are going to want to destabilize, groups that do not want elections to take place," warned Arce, adding, "We lament that position."

Rios, former vice minister of Citizen Security, replaces Eduardo del Castillo, who resigned to run as the presidential candidate for the ruling Movement Towards Socialism party.

"Dialogue is the best tool for reaching solutions and Roberto Rios understands that very well," said Arce at the swearing-in ceremony.

Rios said he accepted the position "with humility and commitment," warning political groups against generating unrest or destabilizing the presidency.

The leadership change comes as Bolivia prepares to go to the polls in a contest that has left ex-president Evo Morales (2006-2019) out of the race.

Morales, a towering figure in Bolivian politics for the past two decades, had his sights set on a fourth presidential term, but was sidelined by a court ruling that upheld constitutional term limits. ■