Ruling upholds Evo Morales in minor abuse allegations, stirring controversy in Bolivia
In the heart of Bolivia, a legal standoff unfolded on Wednesday, as a judge in Santa Cruz suspended an arrest warrant against former President Evo Morales regarding an alleged abuse case involving a 15-year-old minor. The ruling, however, has generated controversy due to the coexistence of two contradictory resolutions of equal rank.
Judge Lilian Moreno of the Santa Cruz court annulled Morales' formal indictment and suspended his arrest warrant, according to lawyer Jorge Pérez. This decision marked a turning point in the legal proceedings against Morales, who has been under investigation since October for suspected human trafficking. Despite the summons to testify, Morales has yet to appear before the investigative body, thus facing an arrest warrant.
The 65-year-old Morales has been taking refuge in his stronghold in the Chapare region of central Bolivia, receiving support from his base. In January, another judge designated Morales as a rebel and prevented him from leaving the country, freezing his accounts and implementing other restrictive measures.
The President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Romer Saucedo, disclosed that there are two resolutions on the case, both carrying the same ranking: one in La Paz, which protects the victim, and another in Santa Cruz, favorable to Morales. Saucedo affirmed that the Supreme Court will make a comparison to make a decision, claiming that it is the highest instance of justice in Bolivia.
The Council of the Magistracy will review if the judicial decision was consistent with the regulations, and warned that if not, the judge could face sanctions. Morales, who has denied the allegations and accused his opponents of political motivations, expressed his satisfaction on his X account, formerly Twitter, stating that justice had finally arrived.
Since the arrest warrant was issued, the complex relationship between Morales and the current president, Luis Arce, has been a topic of discussion. Morales, Arce's predecessor, has distanced himself from the latter and has been battling for party leadership for months. After a ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal, the Movement Towards Socialism remained under the faction favorable to Arce, prompting Morales to declare his intention to run for the August 2025 elections under other party symbols, despite the ongoing investigation.
The divisions within the MAS party, which governed for 19 years, could potentially jeopardize its dominance in the upcoming elections. Tensions escalated further when Morales and his supporters announced their plans to register his candidacy at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, despite being disqualified.
The Bolivian Vice Minister of Civil Defense, Juan Carlos Calvimontes, criticized the judge's decision, labeling it as an "error" and an "aberration." opposition deputy Lucina Campero, overseeing the case, accused the judge of being close to Morales and a government official during his presidency. Experts in judicial matters indicate that the ruling can be appealed, with the Prosecutor's Office currently considering whether to do so.
[1] César Siles, the Justice Minister, confirmed that the arrest warrant issued in October 2023 remains valid, with all aspects of the case, including the charges and jurisdiction, unchanged.[2] Following her ruling, Judge Lilian Moreno was arrested, further highlighting the political and judicial tension surrounding the case.[3] The suspension of the warrant was not a formal overturn, as it came in response to unresolved issues.[4] In addition to legal obstacles, Morales has encountered political setbacks, such as being barred from registering his candidacy for the August 2025 elections due to both legal issues and party status disputes.
- The average Bolivian citizen is closely following the political implications of a suspension on a warrant involving former President Evo Morales, as it has unveiled conflict between policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The war-and-conflicts within the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, Bolivia's ruling party for 19 years, has expanded to include elements of crime-and-justice, with allegations of human trafficking and illicit political motives.
- General-news outlets report that amid the controversy surrounding Judge Lilian Moreno's ruling on Morales' arrest warrant, there is a growing concern about the impact of this judicial decision on policy-and-legislation and the future of Bolivia's democracy.
