The incident on Sunday involving former President Evo Morales’s car being hit by bullets has led to conflicting narratives from Morales and the Bolivian government. Morales claims it was an assassination attempt, while the government alleges that Morales staged the incident himself by firing at police and running over an officer. The government accuses Morales of destroying evidence by instructing his vehicles to be burned after the incident, preventing investigators from collecting evidence that could support his claims of being targeted.
The tension between Morales and current President Luis Arce has been escalating, with Morales’s supporters blocking highways in central Bolivia and security forces attempting to clear them. The government has criticized Morales for disrupting the country with the road blockades, which have caused disruptions in food and fuel supplies nationwide. The government also warned of potential violence, as some groups allied with Morales were reported to be armed, leading to clashes between protesters and authorities resulting in injuries and arrests on both sides.
Morales and Arce, both members of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, have been at odds over the past year, as they vie for control ahead of the 2025 presidential elections. The political infighting is exacerbated by economic challenges facing the country, such as dwindling gas production, depleted foreign currency reserves, and rising inflation. Morales is also facing legal troubles, with allegations of relationships with minors. He has been summoned by prosecutors to testify but did not appear, leading to an arrest warrant being issued against him, which he strongly denies.
The incident on Sunday, where Morales’s car was hit by bullets, has further fueled the animosity between Morales and the government, with both sides standing firm in their conflicting versions of events. Morales insists that he was a target of an assassination attempt, while the government maintains that Morales orchestrated the incident himself to garner sympathy and divert attention from his alleged wrongdoings. The ongoing dispute underscores the deepening divide in Bolivian politics and society, as the country grapples with economic challenges and political uncertainties.
The release of a video showing Morales’s bullet-ridden vehicle and the injuries sustained by his driver has brought attention to the incident and raised concerns about the escalating tensions in Bolivia. The government’s claims of drug trafficking suspicions and Morales’s alleged instruction to destroy evidence have added complexity to the situation, with both sides digging in their heels and refusing to back down. The fallout from the incident has further polarized the political landscape in Bolivia, highlighting the need for dialogue and reconciliation to address the underlying issues driving the conflict.
