Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, Evo Morales, is in a similar bind. Now, he faces threats of arrest, and is prohibited from participating in the next presidential election. The 65-year-old ex-leader had been holed up for several months in the green tropical zone of Chapare. He remains plugged into a vast and loyal personal following that still marches to his drumbeat even after a serious and divisive constitutional court decision booted him from the race.
Morales was president from 2006 to 2019, but now he’s facing grave legal jeopardy. He faces human trafficking charges after allegedly impregnating a 15-year-old girl while in office. A judge recently issued a bench warrant for his arrest — the last thing he needs. Though these challenges get Morales down, she doesn’t let them silence her. He produces a weekly radio show from his political campaign’s headquarters, engaging daily with his people.
In an unprecedented and bold move just ahead of these highly consequential elections, Morales is calling on voters to spoil their ballots. He views this through the lens of the artist as a protest against the political class. He has largely vented his loathing on ex-opposition rivals Samuel Doria Medina and Jorge Quiroga. He called them “perpetual losers” for their repeated inability to unseat him in past elections. Both Doria Medina and Quiroga have run for president three times, losing at least twice to Morales himself.
Tension currently permeates Bolivia’s political environment. It especially pits Morales against President Luis Arce, his one-time finance minister. The two have traded increasingly personal barbs in public over the leadership of their long-dominant Movimiento al Socialismo Party. This internal strife mirrors national, internal divisions within the party and raises real questions about the party’s future course.
The Bolivian economy was in crisis. Compounding this conundrum, it is currently undergoing its worst internal strife in about four decades. Morales contended that without the support of the Indigenous and popular movements, the consequences could be severe for the nation. His supporters, however, insist that Morales’s strong leadership is needed to tackle the monumental challenges still facing a Bolivia in perpetual conflict.
With election day approaching, the clouds still haven’t cleared over this strange political season. Yet Morales’s threats of arrest cast a shadow, instilling fear even among Morales’ supporters and Morales’ opponents. This election may determine Bolivia’s political future for years to come. It helps to secure the country’s fight to overcome great economic misfortune.