Peace.-Bolivian President Luis Arce, in a televised message this Sunday, accused former president and leader of the ruling party, Evo Morales (2006-2019), of trying to shorten his mandate and orchestrating a road blockade on Monday that he said will become a “coup d’état” against him to “impose” his presidential candidacy “by fair means or foul.”
“I have the historic responsibility to denounce to the country and the world what may happen in the coming days in Bolivia because of your (Evo Morales) responsibility. In the coming days a march will begin, which will then lead to a national roadblock, which will end in an attempted coup against a popular government. It is something that you will have to report to our people sooner or later,” Arce said.
Arce was surrounded by his loyal supporters in the message recorded at the Executive headquarters and which was entirely directed towards Morales.
The president said that, since 2020, Morales has been dedicated to preparing his candidacy, working to ensure that his government does not fare well in order to appear as a “savior” of Bolivia in order to “stay in power for another 14 years or more.”
Sectors loyal to Evo Morales announced a march for Tuesday that will start in the town of Caracollo, 190 kilometers southeast of La Paz, with the aim of protesting the economic situation, the lack of dollars and fuel, and avoiding the “proscription” of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).
The Aymara indigenous group ‘Red Ponchos’ also decided to set up a blockade on Monday on the roads that connect La Paz with the rest of the country to demand the resignation of Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca, whom they accuse of “dividing” social organizations.
“Enough, Evo. Until now I have tolerated your attacks, your lies and your slander in silence, but putting the lives of the people at risk is something I will not tolerate,” Arce said.
“You are threatening the entire country with strikes and blockades, because you want to do what the State Constitution does not allow you to do: re-enable yourself as a candidate. It is not me who is disqualifying you, Evo, it is the Constitution,” he added.
The head of state explained that his government responded to the list of requests submitted by Morales’ sector, which is a document of several pages focused on economic and political aspects.
“Here I am, Evo, I will not run away if you want to solve a problem you have with me because I did not accept being your puppet. Come here, I will wait for you here,” Arce told Morales.
Morales and Arce have been estranged since late 2021 due to differences in the State Administration that deepened in the face of the need to renew the national leadership of the MAS, something on which the factions loyal to both have not been able to agree.
The social sectors that support both leaders called for MAS congresses on several occasions, but the electoral authority did not recognize these meetings until both ruling factions organized a single meeting by consensus.
Morales’ supporters have repeatedly proclaimed him as the “sole candidate” for the 2025 elections, while the bloc loyal to Arce insists on renewing the leadership of the MAS and questions whether the former president can be a candidate again.
Morales’ candidacy is a cause of internal controversy within the ruling party, as the government has insisted that the former president cannot run again, while his supporters maintain that he can.Infobae.
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2024-09-20 10:30:12
