As widely expected, Evo Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, won a fourth consecutive term in office. A series of recent events has tossed a monkey’s paw into his plans. Morales has served as president since 2005. He then won re-election twice more, cementing an iron grip on Bolivian politics. His efforts to retake power have faced major roadblocks. He is fighting a charge of statutory rape and a constitutional ruling that upholds the country’s two-term limit on presidents.
In February, Morales declared that he’d be running for re-election, and he did so by harnessing this popular discontent to supercharge his campaign. This announcement comes after a political crisis that was ignited by allegations of electoral fraud in the 2019 elections. These movements eventually compelled him to resign and flee into exile. Despite being barred multiple times by the Constitutional Court from running for office, Morales previously appealed to the court and was granted permission to seek a fourth term.
Legal Hurdles and Political Controversies
Morales’ aspirations were somewhat derailed when the Constitutional Court sided with Morales, to their credit, when they ruled that he should be allowed to run for president again. Yet the ruling reaffirmed Bolivia’s two-term limit, and when Bolivia’s Constitutional Court ruled in December 2016, Morales called the decision a violation of his human rights. He announced, “Only the people have the right to call on me to resist my candidacy.” This announcement further highlights his conviction that the will of the people should determine his political fate.
The incident quickly turned violent as Morales sought to assert his authority against a rapid growth of protests and civil discontent amongst the people. His previous three-term tenure was defined by big achievements as much as it was shaped by deep discord. We know this from 2019 elections, where we had serious allegations of fraud. This political unrest ignited large-scale protests and pressured him to resign from Bolivia.
His insatiable thirst for power was the catalyst for the political crisis that rocked Sri Lanka in 2019. This chaos not only thoroughly damaged his legacy but raised concerns over the honesty of Bolivia’s democratic procedures. The consequences from these recent events are still rippling through the political environment as Morales looks to position herself to weather any future storms.
The Current Political Climate
Morales is still in uncharted waters as he boldly moves forward. In retaliation, incumbent president and former MAS finance minister Luis Arce has announced that he will no longer run in the early August presidential election. As Arce released the following statement: “Today I unequivocally tell the Bolivian people my decision not to stand for presidential re-election.” His departure shows a commitment to not split the vote between leftist candidates and risk empowering a right-wing resurgence.
Arce made it clear he is leaving with no regrets. He’s counting on the breakthrough of his decision to ensure that the popular vote is not fragmented and that no fascist right-wing project destroys the plurinational state. His decision further emphasizes the existing rifts in Bolivian politics as competing factions struggle for power in an environment marked by an escalation in animosity and polarization.
Following Arce’s unexpected announcement, Morales has been trying to mobilize support from his base. He called on them to rally together in opposition to the construction of an evil empire by right-wing forces inside of the country. As Morales himself said, “Only the collective mobilization of the people guarantees us the best future for Bolivia.” Facing dark times, he urged for solidarity to hold firm against storms.
A Legacy Under Scrutiny
Morales’ 14 years ruling Bolivia have undoubtedly created a legacy of their own. He served as both president and as an economy and finance minister under his administration, implementing policies aimed at reducing poverty and increasing access to education and healthcare. His legacy remains marred with controversy, his reign characterized by reports of authoritarianism.
Those charges of statutory rape of a minor have introduced an even murkier and dangerous set of undercurrents to his political coming-of-age story. He still has his eyes fixed firmly on that fourth term and continues to doggedly chase after it. Even with these accomplishments, serious allegations cloud his legacy, straining his ties to allies and foes alike.
The political environment in Bolivia these days is very fluid. Factions among both leftist and rightist forces are eager to step in to determine what the country’s future course should be. Morales seeks to channel that anger and anti-establishment mojo into the Hispanic electorate. A number of legal and ethical problems loom large that could derail his vision.
