These are not good times for Evo Morales. After accusations of statutory rape and human trafficking, it comes to new ruling from the Constitutional Court The Plurinational State (TCP) of Bolivia has kicked out of the presidency of his partyafter nearly three decades in office. The resolution, issued on Thursday, validates the congress of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) organized by social organizations linked to the Government of Luis Arce, with which it has been carrying on a political struggle since 2021.
Accordingly, the former president – who Only a few days ago he proclaimed himself the “sole candidate” of the formation for the 2025 elections, in an event held in his trade union and political bastion (the Tropics of Cochabamba, where he has been entrenched for a month) and surrounded by his: the leadership of the MAS and also the presidential race have been excluded from Bolivia . With this sentence the leader is recognized farmer Grover García as the new leader of the Movement to Socialism.
The ruling, signed by judges Gonzalo Hurtado and René Espada, determines the validity of “all acts of execution, including the Ordinary National Congress of the MAS-IPSP held in El Alto, department of La Paz, from May 3 to 5, 2024.” . Therefore it would remain canceled what was agreed by the ‘evista’ block in a previous congress, convened in October 2023, and also in the meeting held last Sunday, 10 November.
Morales – who was president between 2006 and 2019 – cannot run for election again. “It’s not a human right”they condemned. Even if he doesn’t seem willing to throw in the towel. The leader of the coca growers called the ruling “unconstitutional” and “illegal”. As stated through his account on the social network
We regret that political pressure and judicial persecution were stronger than the defense of democracy. The TSE, with the AUTO TSE-RSP n. 020/2024 issued today, withdraws from his position, agreed with all the political forces of the country, and decides to violate the…
— Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) November 13, 2024
“This is the level of deterioration of democracy in Bolivia,” Morales added. This Friday his speech was however a call to “the unity of the true architects of this Process of Change and of the militants of the MAS -IPSP”. “Unity to protect what has been conquered, defend what has been built and deepen what has been advanced,” he said. “Unity to care for each other, to support each other in adversity and in joy.”
Thus he encourages those who at a certain point followed him to return to the fold, like the thousands of Bolivians who for almost a month have sown the chaos in the country with its blockades of streets to defend their leader against the allegations of statutory rape, rape, human trafficking and child abuse. The ‘evistas’ called for the closure of the investigation and the recognition of his candidacy for the 2025 presidential elections, without worrying about the shortage of fuel and basic products.
Those from Arce celebrate
As expected, sectors linked to Luis Arce celebrated in style the constitutional ruling – issued on Thursday – by which Evo Morales is removed from the leadership of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS), after three decades at the helm. “Today is a historic day,” said spokesman Vidal Gómez, “the political instrument returns to social organizations”.
Regardless of the phrase, it seems obvious that we have an absolutely polarized MAS right now. On the one hand, those of Arce; on the other, those of Evo. Gómez, like the former president, also launched his appeal to try to capture some militants who continue on the other side. The MAS, with Grover García at the helm“He will work within a framework of unity,” he said, inviting the evistas to do so “join” to guarantee the government period 2025-2030.
On the other hand, Gómez denounced Morales he allegedly withdrew approximately 10 million bolivianos from the party’s accounts (1.4 million dollars) to allocate them to the recent roadblocks that his followers have maintained for 24 days without interruption in the center of the country, to defend him from a possible arrest warrant for a case of human trafficking and statutory rape.
New political landscape and addresses the challenges ahead.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Political Expert on Evo Morales’ Current Situation
Editor: Good day, everyone! Welcome to Time.news. I’m here with Dr. Ana Torres, a political analyst specializing in Latin American politics. Today, we delve into the complex situation surrounding Evo Morales, who recently lost his position as head of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) party amid serious allegations and a ruling from Bolivia’s Constitutional Court. Dr. Torres, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Torres: Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for the political landscape in Bolivia, and I’m eager to discuss it.
Editor: Let’s start with the recent ruling by the Constitutional Court. What does this mean for Morales and the MAS party?
Dr. Torres: This ruling signifies a pivotal shift in Bolivian politics. The Constitutional Court’s decision effectively ends Morales’ nearly three-decade leadership of MAS. It validates the recent congress organized by the more reformist wing of the party—those aligned with President Luis Arce. This is a clear signal that the party is moving away from Morales’ influence, particularly as it navigates a