Judicial authority restores arrest warrant for ex-President Evo Morales in Bolivia.
Rewritten Article:
The latest twist in the Evo Morales case just got more intriguing. His arrest warrant for the alleged trafficking of a minor has been reinstated, despite a judge cancelling it on April 30. The Justice Minister, César Siles, spilled the beans during an appearance on Bolivia TV, stating that the warrant, case, investigation, and jurisdiction are all still very much in play.
Apparently, Judge Lilian Moreno of Santa Cruz (situated in the eastern part of the country) had suspended the charges against Evo Morales, but a magistrate from the departmental justice tribunal of La Paz, the administrative capital of the country, put a kink in that ruling. Unfortunately, the reason behind this suspension is still shrouded in mystery.
The prosecution had initially ordered the arrest of the 65-year-old indigenous leader back in October 2024, and he'd been hiding out in his stronghold of Chapare, centrally located in the country, ever since. The cops just haven't seemed all that keen on taking him into custody.
The Long and Winding Legal Road
Evo Morales, the first indigenous president of Bolivia (serving from 2006-2019), is being accused of "trafficking" a minor because of an alleged arrangement with the parents of a 15-year-old girl in exchange for benefits. According to the prosecutors, this young girl was none other than his lover, and the loving result of this liaison was Morales' daughter, born a year later.
The ex-leader has adamantly denied these allegations and claims that an investigation into the same matter was shut down in 2020. He insists he's a victim of a "judicial persecution" by the government of President Luis Arce, a former minister of economy under Morales.
Despite the ruling by the Constitutional Court confirming his ineligibility to serve more than two terms as president, Evo Morales still dreams of returning to power.
The Facts in Question
To paint a clearer picture, let's delve into the details. The allegations against Morales originate from a relationship he's accused of having with a minor (a 15-year-old girl) during his presidency, leading to an arrest warrant in October 2023[2][5]. The authorities claim Morales is the father of a child born to this girl in 2016. However, he denies these intricate claims, suggesting they are politically motivated to prevent his return[2][5].
The case took a turn when a judge lifted the arrest warrant on May 1, 2025, ruling that prior investigations found Morales unlinked to any wrongdoing. Morales interpreted this as a sign of "justice" and jumped at the chance to declare his intention to run for president again. But Bolivia's Justice Minister rejected the judge's decision, dubbing it "absurd" and insisting that the charges and jurisdiction remain unchanged[1][3][5].
In essence, the arrest warrant remains valid, according to the Justice Ministry, despite the judge's ruling stating otherwise. The ongoing legal conflict is not only complicated but also tinged with Morales' political aspirations to regain the presidency amidst constitutional restrictions.
Stay tuned for more updates on this captivating saga.
Also read: Bolivia's struggling economy with AFP
Subscribe for more information
Contribute
Reuse this content with proper attribution
- The Justice Ministry in Bolivia has reaffirmed the arrest warrant against Evo Morales, overturning a judge's decision that had suspended the charges, which stem from allegations of trafficking a minor.
- Despite claims of his ineligibility to serve more than two terms as president, Morales, the former indigenous leader of Bolivia, continues to aspire for political power, fueling speculation about the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
- The persecution of Evo Morales, currently under investigation for an alleged relationship with a minor during his presidency, has been a prominent topic in politics, policy-and-legislation, and general-news, with the war-and-conflicts within the judicial system adding to the intrigue.
- The procedure regarding Evo Morales' case has been anything but straightforward, with the cancellation and reinstatement of charges, raising questions about the general fairness of the investigation.
- As the long and winding legal road for Evo Morales continues, his dreams of returning to power remain clouded by the charges and the political implications of his alleged actions, making it a hot topic in the world of politics and general-news.
