Bolivia Slides Towards Anarchy as Two Bitter Rivals Prepare for Showdown in 2025 Election
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Loading... - Sabrina Jabal
- 09 Dec 2024
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Bolivia, once hailed as a beacon of good governance in Latin America, is now on the precipice of chaos as two bitter rivals, Evo Morales and Luis Arce, engage in a fierce battle for control of the country. The escalating tensions have led to armed supporters of Morales storming a military facility, seizing weapons and ammunition, and taking over 200 soldiers hostage.
Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, governed in favor of the country's marginalized Indigenous population. However, his authoritarian tendencies and attempts to circumvent term limits have been widely criticized. In 2016, a referendum rejected his bid to drop term limits, but he appointed a constitutional court to override the decision. Morales' subsequent election victory in 2019 was marred by allegations of rigging, leading to widespread protests and his eventual resignation.
Morales has made a stunning comeback to the Bolivian political scene, leaving a trail of turmoil in his wake. His party, Movimiento al Socialismo (Mas), is now in power, but it is hostile to Morales and his supporters. In response, Morales has resorted to blockades and armed protests, a tactic he perfected during his time as the leader of Bolivia's union of coca growers.
The current unrest may be a prelude to a bigger showdown in 2025 when Bolivians elect their next president. Morales and Arce, the current president, are locked in a bitter fight for control of the Mas party. Arce controls the state institutions and has strong support in urban areas, while Morales holds sway over his Indigenous support base in Cochabamba and the coca-growing Chapare region.
Morales has employed a range of tactics to galvanize his support base, including a hunger strike and accusations of racism against the government. However, his actions are increasingly seen as a personal power grab rather than a genuine attempt to address the country's problems. The armed blockades, violent protests, and hostage-taking have brought the country to the brink of anarchy, with the government estimating the cost of the unrest at billions of dollars.
As the situation in Bolivia continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the country can avoid descending into chaos. The 2025 election promises to be a pivotal moment in the country's history, with the outcome hanging precariously in the balance. One thing is certain, however: the fate of Bolivia's democracy and its people hangs in the balance, and the world watches with bated breath as the country teeters on the edge of anarchy.
