An alleged assassination attempt against former Bolivian president Evo Morales shook the nation on Sunday amid increasing tensions within Bolivia’s Movement for Socialism (MAS) political party and a failed coup against current president Luis Arce..The Failed AssassinationThe news of the alleged assassination began circulating social media platforms alongside a video showing the former president in a vehicle alongside at least two others targeted by gunfire. In the video, gunshots can be heard and bullet holes are present in both the windshield and rear window of the vehicle as Morales and his driver attempt to flee the assailants.Morales has claimed the attack was the fault of President Arce, who, according to the former president, sent “elite agents of the Bolivian State” to murder him. In a statement published on X, Morales called upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to activate Article 41 of the American Convention on Human Rights, which allows the IACHR to conduct investigations into human rights abuses and issue special or precautionary measures in order to secure the security of affected groups or individuals..Arce published a response on X, condemning the attack and requesting an investigation be launched into the alleged attempt on Morales’ life.“The exercise of any violent practice in politics must be condemned and clarified. Problems are not resolved by trying to kill people or by partisan speculation,” Arce said on X. “Therefore, in response to former President Evo Morales' complaint of an alleged attempt on his life, I have ordered an immediate and thorough investigation to clarify this incident.”Bolivia’s Deputy Security Minister, Roberto Rios, denounced claims by Morales that authorities were responsible for the attack, announcing in his own statement that authorities had begun an investigation into a possible “self attack” launched by Morales, a theory that suggests the attack was in order to inflame tensions between factions within MAS and support his own aspirations to be reelected as president.“Morales is seeking confrontation and violence on the streets for political interests and to achieve impunity,” Rios told reporters.Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo later claimed in a press conference on Monday that Morales’ convoy had fired upon an anti-narcotics patrol before running over one officer following a traffic stop on Morales’ convoy, which was suspected of transporting narcotics. The minister noted further that Morales had ordered his vehicles to be burned following the altercation with security forces.Morales swiftly denied the accusation of transporting narcotics, questioning the reasoning for the “elite military and police team shooting more than 18 times at the vehicles I was traveling in” in a post on X..Tensions FlareThe alleged attempt on Morales’ life comes during a time of upheaval within MAS following Morales’ announced plan to run for reelection in Bolivia’s 2025 presidential election, pitting himself against Arce, who seeks to run for reelection in the same election. This intention to run for reelection by Morales also led to the failed coup led by former Commanding General of the Bolivian Army Juan Jose Zuniga.In the leadup to Zuniga’s attempted coup, the former general had threatened to arrest Morales if he sought reelection, a threat that prompted Arce to remove the general from his position just a day prior to the failed coup. Morales previously accused the general of organizing a plot to eliminate coca production leaders and political opponents, leading some to speculate that the coup plot had been planned far in advance..During the attempted coup, Zuniga noted he had mobilized soldiers loyal to him in "annoyance" with the current government while promising that armed forces were “going to take over" and that a new cabinet would be installed. Following these statements, Zuniga’s forces began to break down the door leading to the presidential palace where Arce was located. A standoff between the two men swiftly began while hundreds of Arce supporters arrived at the scene of the coup and clashed with soldiers there. Without support from other members of the armed forces and the general public, Zuniga and his forces departed from the scene but were later apprehended by authorities.Questions arose following the failed coup, with Zuniga claiming that he was ordered to launch the coup by Arce himself."The president told me, 'The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity'," the general told members of the press at the scene of his arrest.This alleged assassination attempt also follows an investigation into Morales for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl who was a member of his political youth guard in 2015, according to Justice Minister Cesar Siles. A prosecutor summoned the former president on October 11 in order to extract a statement, a summons that was ultimately ignored by Morales, leading to the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued for the former president.In wake of the accusations, Morales has vehemently denied the charges, claiming that they are a “lie” and an attempt by Arce’s government to remove him from the ongoing power struggle within MAS.Leaked documents surrounding the case accuse Morales of fathering a child with the 15-year-old girl, with Morales allegedly being recognized on a birth certificate for the child.In response to a possible arrest of Morales, supporters of the former president mobilized, blocking key roads in Cochabamba and clashing with police there, where Morales is known to reside. Police utilized tear gas in an effort to disperse demonstrators, announcing that they had arrested six people who took part in the demonstrations..The Cause of the ChaosMorales resigned from office in 2019 amid what he claims was a coup after armed intruders entered his home in an alleged attempted arson attack alongside large-scale protests against his presidency. These protests began following the president's announcement that he would run for a third term under the Movement for Socialism Party (MAS), an illegal move as presidents in Bolivia are limited to two terms.In order to secure a third term in office, Morales held a 2016 referendum to abolish term limits. This referendum failed, prompting the then-president to appeal to Bolivia's Supreme Court to allow Morales' presidential campaign in 2019. Morales won the subsequent election but faced growing public opposition to his new term amid allegations of electoral fraud after the president suspended the preliminary vote count after Morales was trailing in the polls. Electoral authorities later announced that Morales won the vote with just over 10 percent of the popular vote, allowing him to secure office without a run-off election.Following Morales' resignation from office and subsequent flight to Mexico, the acting government announced another election for the presidential office. This election was won by fellow MAS party member, Luis Arce, who took office in 2020. Critics accused Arce of being a puppet for Morales, a claim the president denies to this day.Tensions within the nation come amid a turbulent period within Bolivian history as the country has found itself in economic despair since the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down nations across the world.As tensions remain high, the future of Bolivia is sure to maintain its chaotic stance, with the possibility of a disputed election akin to that of this year’s presidential election in Venezuela seeming all the more likely. Morales has been barred from running for office this year, preventing the former president from holding office legally, likely suggesting a major conflict regardless of which candidate wins the upcoming presidential election.
An alleged assassination attempt against former Bolivian president Evo Morales shook the nation on Sunday amid increasing tensions within Bolivia’s Movement for Socialism (MAS) political party and a failed coup against current president Luis Arce..The Failed AssassinationThe news of the alleged assassination began circulating social media platforms alongside a video showing the former president in a vehicle alongside at least two others targeted by gunfire. In the video, gunshots can be heard and bullet holes are present in both the windshield and rear window of the vehicle as Morales and his driver attempt to flee the assailants.Morales has claimed the attack was the fault of President Arce, who, according to the former president, sent “elite agents of the Bolivian State” to murder him. In a statement published on X, Morales called upon the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to activate Article 41 of the American Convention on Human Rights, which allows the IACHR to conduct investigations into human rights abuses and issue special or precautionary measures in order to secure the security of affected groups or individuals..Arce published a response on X, condemning the attack and requesting an investigation be launched into the alleged attempt on Morales’ life.“The exercise of any violent practice in politics must be condemned and clarified. Problems are not resolved by trying to kill people or by partisan speculation,” Arce said on X. “Therefore, in response to former President Evo Morales' complaint of an alleged attempt on his life, I have ordered an immediate and thorough investigation to clarify this incident.”Bolivia’s Deputy Security Minister, Roberto Rios, denounced claims by Morales that authorities were responsible for the attack, announcing in his own statement that authorities had begun an investigation into a possible “self attack” launched by Morales, a theory that suggests the attack was in order to inflame tensions between factions within MAS and support his own aspirations to be reelected as president.“Morales is seeking confrontation and violence on the streets for political interests and to achieve impunity,” Rios told reporters.Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo later claimed in a press conference on Monday that Morales’ convoy had fired upon an anti-narcotics patrol before running over one officer following a traffic stop on Morales’ convoy, which was suspected of transporting narcotics. The minister noted further that Morales had ordered his vehicles to be burned following the altercation with security forces.Morales swiftly denied the accusation of transporting narcotics, questioning the reasoning for the “elite military and police team shooting more than 18 times at the vehicles I was traveling in” in a post on X..Tensions FlareThe alleged attempt on Morales’ life comes during a time of upheaval within MAS following Morales’ announced plan to run for reelection in Bolivia’s 2025 presidential election, pitting himself against Arce, who seeks to run for reelection in the same election. This intention to run for reelection by Morales also led to the failed coup led by former Commanding General of the Bolivian Army Juan Jose Zuniga.In the leadup to Zuniga’s attempted coup, the former general had threatened to arrest Morales if he sought reelection, a threat that prompted Arce to remove the general from his position just a day prior to the failed coup. Morales previously accused the general of organizing a plot to eliminate coca production leaders and political opponents, leading some to speculate that the coup plot had been planned far in advance..During the attempted coup, Zuniga noted he had mobilized soldiers loyal to him in "annoyance" with the current government while promising that armed forces were “going to take over" and that a new cabinet would be installed. Following these statements, Zuniga’s forces began to break down the door leading to the presidential palace where Arce was located. A standoff between the two men swiftly began while hundreds of Arce supporters arrived at the scene of the coup and clashed with soldiers there. Without support from other members of the armed forces and the general public, Zuniga and his forces departed from the scene but were later apprehended by authorities.Questions arose following the failed coup, with Zuniga claiming that he was ordered to launch the coup by Arce himself."The president told me, 'The situation is very screwed up, very critical. It is necessary to prepare something to raise my popularity'," the general told members of the press at the scene of his arrest.This alleged assassination attempt also follows an investigation into Morales for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl who was a member of his political youth guard in 2015, according to Justice Minister Cesar Siles. A prosecutor summoned the former president on October 11 in order to extract a statement, a summons that was ultimately ignored by Morales, leading to the possibility of an arrest warrant being issued for the former president.In wake of the accusations, Morales has vehemently denied the charges, claiming that they are a “lie” and an attempt by Arce’s government to remove him from the ongoing power struggle within MAS.Leaked documents surrounding the case accuse Morales of fathering a child with the 15-year-old girl, with Morales allegedly being recognized on a birth certificate for the child.In response to a possible arrest of Morales, supporters of the former president mobilized, blocking key roads in Cochabamba and clashing with police there, where Morales is known to reside. Police utilized tear gas in an effort to disperse demonstrators, announcing that they had arrested six people who took part in the demonstrations..The Cause of the ChaosMorales resigned from office in 2019 amid what he claims was a coup after armed intruders entered his home in an alleged attempted arson attack alongside large-scale protests against his presidency. These protests began following the president's announcement that he would run for a third term under the Movement for Socialism Party (MAS), an illegal move as presidents in Bolivia are limited to two terms.In order to secure a third term in office, Morales held a 2016 referendum to abolish term limits. This referendum failed, prompting the then-president to appeal to Bolivia's Supreme Court to allow Morales' presidential campaign in 2019. Morales won the subsequent election but faced growing public opposition to his new term amid allegations of electoral fraud after the president suspended the preliminary vote count after Morales was trailing in the polls. Electoral authorities later announced that Morales won the vote with just over 10 percent of the popular vote, allowing him to secure office without a run-off election.Following Morales' resignation from office and subsequent flight to Mexico, the acting government announced another election for the presidential office. This election was won by fellow MAS party member, Luis Arce, who took office in 2020. Critics accused Arce of being a puppet for Morales, a claim the president denies to this day.Tensions within the nation come amid a turbulent period within Bolivian history as the country has found itself in economic despair since the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down nations across the world.As tensions remain high, the future of Bolivia is sure to maintain its chaotic stance, with the possibility of a disputed election akin to that of this year’s presidential election in Venezuela seeming all the more likely. Morales has been barred from running for office this year, preventing the former president from holding office legally, likely suggesting a major conflict regardless of which candidate wins the upcoming presidential election.