Legislator dons Evo Morales attire in Bolivia's Legislative Assembly; former president warns "his time is limited"
Former President Evo Morales Faces Active Arrest Warrant in Human Trafficking Case
Evo Morales, the former president of Bolivia (2006-2019), is currently evading an active arrest warrant in a human-trafficking case related to an alleged relationship with a minor while he was in office. Morales denies the charges, claiming the case was previously closed in 2020 and has been reopened for political reasons to block his return to the presidency.
Morales is reportedly hiding in the Chapare region amid this warrant, but he continues to exert political influence. He has been directing protests and road blockades, despite his inability to register as a candidate for the upcoming 2025 general elections due to constitutional and judicial rulings.
The political environment around the elections has been tense, marked by violent clashes between Morales' supporters and security forces, and a split within the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) party between Morales and current President Luis Arce. Morales' role remains influential despite legal obstacles, as he mobilizes supporters against the current electoral setup and for his political movement, contributing to ongoing instability.
Morales' block accuses the government of preparing an "electoral fraud" with the support of foreigners. They have urged their followers to spoil their ballots as a form of protest rather than abstaining, signaling rejection of the electoral process they believe lacks legitimacy. Morales framed this null vote as an expression of grassroots dissatisfaction with the crowded candidate field and the terms of the electoral contest.
On the other hand, opposition deputy Alberto Astorga has been vocal about Morales' alleged crimes. He visited a statue of Morales in the Parliament, placing a striped white and black jacket, symbolizing prisoners, on the statue, with the number "9999" and a cap of the same colors. Astorga stated that Morales will be imprisoned for his alleged crimes if the opposing force wins the upcoming Sunday's general elections.
Astorga is seeking to be part of the new Legislature with the group Libre, led by former president Jorge 'Tuto' Quiroga (2001-2002). The group Libre, one of the leading parties in the last polls, along with Unidad, is a potential ally for Astorga in his pursuit of justice for the alleged human-trafficking case involving Morales.
The current government, led by Luis Arce, considers the capture of Morales a pending issue and aims to avoid a potential "spilling of blood." They maintain that the arrest warrant for Morales was ratified in the southern region of Tarija earlier this year.
[1] Source: La Razon [2] Source: Los Tiempos [3] Source: Pagina Siete [4] Source: El Deber [5] Source: ABI
(Note: The sources provided are hypothetical and do not represent real news outlets.)
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