Bolivian President Luis Arce has accused former leader Evo Morales of plotting a coup by calling for demonstrations and roadblocks. These actions, officially aimed at protesting fuel shortages, are seen by Arce as a strategy to force the courts to overturn a ban on Morales’ presidential candidacy in the 2025 election. Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, enjoyed immense popularity until his attempt to bypass the constitution and secure a fourth term in 2019. He is currently barred from running in the upcoming election, but with the support of a faction within his party, he is pushing to overturn this legal restriction.
Morales announced that his supporters in the ruling Movement Towards Socialism party will begin marches from Tuesday in the town of Caracollo, heading towards the capital La Paz. Though they are political rivals, Arce and Morales belong to the same party, and the Movement must ultimately choose a single candidate for the 2025 election. As it stands, Morales is the only candidate who has publicly declared his intention to run, despite the ban.
President Arce vehemently denounced Morales’ actions, stating that the planned demonstrations aim to impose his candidacy “by any means.” He urged Morales to refrain from “setting fire to our country” with his actions and avoid economic hardship by not disrupting supply chains with national roadblocks. He emphasized that Morales’ actions violate the constitution, which prohibits him from running again.
This escalating conflict within the Movement Towards Socialism underscores the deep divisions within the party regarding Morales’ political future and potential return to power. The coming days will be crucial in determining the course of this political showdown and the potential impact on Bolivian society.
