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Bolivia has interim president, Morales from Mexico pledges he will return: situation remains highly fragile

Wednesday, November 13th 2019 - 09:56 UTC
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“Given the definitive absence of the president and vice president ... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order,” Añez sa “Given the definitive absence of the president and vice president ... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order,” Añez sa
A parliamentary session scheduled to formally appoint her was boycotted by lawmakers from Morales’ leftist MAS party, who said it would be illegitimate. A parliamentary session scheduled to formally appoint her was boycotted by lawmakers from Morales’ leftist MAS party, who said it would be illegitimate.
Morales’ resignation came after OAS found serious irregularities during the Oct. 20 election, prompting political allies to quit and the army to urge him to step down Morales’ resignation came after OAS found serious irregularities during the Oct. 20 election, prompting political allies to quit and the army to urge him to step down
“As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues,” Morales said after disembarking from the plane in Mexico City “As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues,” Morales said after disembarking from the plane in Mexico City

The head of Bolivia’s Senate, Jeanine Añez, took office as interim president on Tuesday as former leader Evo Morales pledged to keep up his political fight from exile in Mexico after resigning in what he has alleged was a coup.

Añez, 52, assumed leadership before other lawmakers in Congress, invoking a constitutional clause that dictates that she would be next in line to rule after Morales and his vice president, Alvaro Garcia, resigned on Sunday, as well as the head of the Senate and the Lower House.

A parliamentary session scheduled to formally appoint her was boycotted by lawmakers from Morales’ leftist MAS party, who said it would be illegitimate.

“Before the definitive absence of the president and vice president ... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order,” Añez, a right-wing opponent of Morales, said to applause from opposition lawmakers.

It was unclear if the move would quell unrest in the highland capital, La Paz, and other cities unleashed by Morales’ disputed bid for a fourth term. Video footage on Tuesday showed police battling supporters of Morales in the city of Cochabamba and masked protesters calling for civil war.

A senator with Morales’ party called for protests starting on Tuesday until he returns to finish his mandate in January.

In Washington, a senior Trump administration official said: “Morales’ departure is indeed a positive step to begin calming the situation on the ground in Bolivia.”

The official said Mexico had notified the United States of its intention to offer Morales asylum and Washington had offered to help with logistics as necessary.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcel Ebrard earlier said Mexico had not discussed the question of asylum with the United States.

The United States on Tuesday ordered family members of U.S. government employees to leave Bolivia due to the unrest, and warned American citizens against traveling there, the U.S. State Department said.

Morales’ resignation came after the Organization of American States (OAS) declared there were serious irregularities during the Oct. 20 election, prompting political allies to quit and the army to urge him to step down.

Morales, the longest-serving leader among a wave of Latin American leftists who dominated the region in the early years of the century, resigned after weeks of protests over the disputed election and pressure from security forces on Sunday.

Morales called Añez’s move to replace him part of “the most cunning and disastrous coup in history.” Earlier on Tuesday, he thanked Mexico for saving his life as he arrived to take up asylum, repeating his accusation that his rivals had ousted him in a coup.

“As long as I am alive, we will remain in politics. As long as I am alive, the fight continues,” Morales told reporters after disembarking from the plane in Mexico City, dressed in a blue short-sleeved shirt. He was met by Ebrard.

The former president was then whisked away in a military helicopter, television footage showed. Mexican officials have not said where he will stay, citing security concerns.

Earlier on Tuesday, Añez called for Bolivians to come together but fell short of promising protection for MAS lawmakers who have asked for safety guarantees.

“We are emerging from one of the darkest episodes of our democratic history,” said Añez. “To those who have caused damage or committed any crime: God and justice will judge you.”

More than 30 election officials have been arrested following Morales’ resignation, according to the office of Bolivia’s attorney general.

Residents of La Paz said they hoped politicians would finally restore order to the city, which has been rocked since the election by protests and looting.

The country’s biggest federation of labor unions has threatened an indefinite strike if politicians and civic leaders fail to restore order, and the Catholic Church has called for peace and safety guarantees for lawmakers.

Morales arrived in Mexico after taking off from the central Bolivian town of Chimore, a stronghold of his supporters where the country’s first indigenous president retreated as his 14-year rule imploded. The journey was far from simple.

Takeoff was delayed, with supporters surrounding the airport. Then the plane was denied permission to fuel in Peru, Ebrard said, so it diverted to Paraguay, a stop he said Argentine President-elect Alberto Fernandez helped arrange.

Ebrard had earlier tweeted a photo of Morales alone in the jet with a downcast expression, displaying Mexico’s red, white and green flag across his lap.

At the Organization of American States in Washington on Tuesday, a group of 15 countries including Brazil, the United States and Canada, called for new elections and an end to violence.

“Yes, there was a coup d’etat in Bolivia: It occurred on Oct. 20, when electoral fraud was committed that resulted in the victory of the ex-President Evo Morales in the first round,” said Luis Almagro, the OAS secretary general.

Morales, a charismatic 60-year-old former coca leaf farmer, was beloved by the poor when he won power in 2006. He achieved steady economic growth in one of the region’s poorest nations and was hugely popular for many years.

But he angered many Bolivians by insisting on seeking a fourth term. He defied term limits and aroused accusations of autocracy when he won a legal challenge to a 2016 referendum in which Bolivians voted against allowing him to run again.

Añez is supposed to prepare Bolivia for a fresh election in 90 days, as the constitution indicates. However her time will be over on 20 January, when Morales was expected to end the current mandate, and besides the electoral roll is plagued with irregularities.

 

Categories: Politics, Latin America.

Top Comments

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  • Chicureo

    Gentlemen please, there is a Lady in a presidency that certainly is far more physically attractive. She has to call for a new democrat election in 90 days. Whether you like it or not, Morales overstayed his popularity a long time ago.
    It does not matter what Trump or Piñera thinks, but instead the MAJORITY of the people, which most are non-European.

    You think CFK doesn't use hair color?

    Nov 14th, 2019 - 12:41 am +1
  • Chicureo

    DemonTree
    The military wants a democratic transition of presidential power with elections to be called within 90 days. Those “pesky communists” are the anarchists that do not seek a freely democratic government which is typically for their evil mentality.

    As far as hair color, my preference is for brunettes...

    Nov 14th, 2019 - 12:16 pm +1
  • Chicureo

    Estimado THINK

    You have Carlos Gardel, incredibly good steaks and a far superior self-estimation of your national character...

    Acaricia mi sueño
    El suave murmullo de tu suspirar
    Como ríe la vida
    Si tus ojos negros me quieren mirar…

    The wine is outstanding this evening... We bow in awe of your greatness... especially in your intellectual superior knowledge of home prices in Chile... ...thank you for the entertainment...

    Meanwhile, Madam Lafarge informs me, we're buying a new apartment in Viña because of security issues and our view was obstructed by too many tall buildings... This makes me unhappy, but I have no control.

    We're caught on the fortunate side of my nation's society, while the unfortunates have caused their own suffering and loss of economic success. The recent unrest has sadly harmed the quality of their lives. My production and harvest costs are declining, my income is rising due to currencies exchange and taxes will rise.

    My only complaint has been the increase of insurance costs of fixed assets due to arson and theft. Bottom line is still far in my advantage.

    Like I said, little changes on our continent...

    As far as Bolivia, I have the same attitude about the failed nation, is about the same as my countrymen... we don't care... They have a good beer company and a few of the women from Santa Cruz are considered attractive, but we could care less...

    I think it quaint that they maintain a navy...

    Nov 14th, 2019 - 11:17 pm +1
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