The political turmoil in Bolivia has escalated as former allies, Evo Morales and Luis Arce, are now at odds, with Morales calling for protests against Arce’s government. Morales, a former leftist president, has accused Arce of mismanaging the economy and called for his resignation. The protests have led to road blockades, with Indigenous activists joining in to express their dissatisfaction with the current government. The economic crisis, fuel shortages, and dwindling foreign currency reserves have fueled discontent among the Bolivian population, leading some to look back nostalgically at Morales’ time in office when poverty was reduced significantly.
The rift between Morales and Arce began when Morales returned from exile, seeking to make a political comeback. The two former allies turned political rivals, causing polarization in Bolivia’s politics and creating a sense of turmoil. The tension between the two escalated after soldiers reportedly tried to seize power in a supposed coup attempt in June. Morales has called on his supporters to take part in a weeklong march to protest against Arce’s government, as he believes it has failed to address the country’s economic crisis and maintain stability.
Arce has accused Morales of trying to undermine democracy and sabotage his administration through his attempts to mobilize support and run in the next presidential election. Arce stated that Morales’s actions were putting democracy at risk and threatening the stability of the country. The situation in Bolivia harks back to the chaos and bloodshed of 2019 when Morales ran for an unconstitutional third term, sparking mass protests that eventually led to his resignation and allegations of a coup. Morales’s popularity plummeted when he tried to bypass the constitution and seek a fourth term, leading to significant unrest among coca cultivators, Indigenous tribes, and workers in Bolivia.
Morales has made an appeal to the international community to support his march as a response to what he sees as an unthinking government that has remained silent in the face of the crisis. Arce’s speech on state TV, where he criticized Morales for putting people’s lives at risk and attempting to return to power by any means necessary, has further heightened tensions between the two factions. Another protest leader has warned Arce that the social movement will hold him responsible for any consequences that arise from the protests, indicating the seriousness of the situation and the potential for further unrest in Bolivia. The power struggle between Morales and Arce has pushed Bolivia to the brink, with both sides vying for control and support from the people.
