The former president Evo Morales advances this Monday on La Paz together with thousands of followers, in a tense protest that began a week ago against the government of Luis Arce for the economic crisis and an alleged attempt to torpedo its presidential candidacy.
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Morales heads what he has called the “march to save Bolivia” against Arce, his Minister of Economy during the 13 years he held power (2006-2019) and with whom he is now competing for the presidential nomination of the ruling party in view of the 2025 elections.
On Sunday, in a televised message, Arce warned Morales that he would not give him the “taste of a civil war”after the clashes with sticks and stones between protesters from both sides that left 34 injured amid opposition protests, according to official figures.
We have come to defend democracy so that the brother president can fulfil his mandate. We do not want him to be harmed. Brother Evo Morales’ group is coming to harm us.
Prior to the march’s arrival from the neighboring city of El Alto, police blocked access to the government headquarters, while hundreds of people supporting Arce gathered around the area awaiting the eventual arrival of Morales and his followers.
“We came to defend democracy so that the brother president can fulfill his mandate. We do not want him to be harmed. Brother Evo Morales’ group is coming to harm us,” he told the Afp Lourdes Calizaya, leader of the Council of Federations Peasant women of the Yungas.
The mobilization against the government is planned – which according to Morales brings together some 15,000 people– will meet in the Bolivian capital in the afternoon, at the end of a journey of about 190 km through the Bolivian highlands.
“Our march is to say enough of corruption, of a government of families, of covering up drug trafficking, of the destruction of the people’s economy and of attacks on our social organizations,” he wrote. Morales this Monday on their social networks.
Political dispute and economic crisis fuel confrontation between Morales and Arce
Boliviaa country rich in gas and lithium resources – the key mineral in the transition to clean energy – has been facing fuel and dollar shortages since last year.
Faced with the fall in gas sales abroad, associated with the decline in production due to lack of investment in the industry, the country reduced imports of the fuel it distributes to subsidized price.
This mobilization is not intended to be a social claim, its primary objective is to interrupt the current constitutional mandate.
Arce has drawn on international reserves to maintain subsidies, which in turn has triggered a lack of dollars and the devaluation of the Bolivian peso.
But the background to the crisis is the fight for power between Morales and Arce.
The influential indigenous leader has accused his former minister of allying himself with judges to prevent him from competing again for the presidency in 2025.
The pro-government wing of the Movement Towards Socialism supports the re-election of Arce, who has not yet said whether he will run in the elections.
“This mobilization is not aimed at social demands, its primary objective is to interrupt the current constitutional mandate,” said Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa in public letters sent to the international community.
According to the head of Bolivian diplomacy, Morales intends to make his new candidacy for the presidency “viable”, “despite the fact that the Political Constitution of the State does not allow it.”
Late last year, a high court ruled against Morales’ bid, arguing that the Bolivian constitution only allows immediate re-election for one term.
However, the former president maintains that he is qualified to run again since he spent a presidential term after he left power.
During the course of the march, the Ombudsman’s Office has unsuccessfully attempted to mediate for a dialogue between both leaders.
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