Former President of Bolivia Evo Morales wants to run for re-election in 2025 | Abroad

Morales says he feels “obligated” to stand for re-election because of the current government’s attacks on his person. It once again makes clear the rivalry that has arisen within the ruling MAS party between Morales and fellow party member Luis Acre, the current president who was Minister of Economic Affairs under Morales.

“Compelled by the government’s attacks, I have decided to respond to the requests of our members and of so many brothers and sisters who attend meetings throughout the country and ask me to be a candidate for the presidency of our beloved Bolivia.” , Morales said. He accuses Arce’s government of trying to sideline him politically, including by wrongly suspecting him of corruption.

The 63-year-old Morales, an indigenous former coca farmer, fled the country in a hurry in November 2019 after he was ousted in the elections for a fourth term in government due to allegations of election fraud. He went into exile in Argentina where he claimed he was the victim of a right-wing ‘coup’ backed by the United States.

The right-wing Jeanine Añez subsequently came to power, but after an eleven-month transitional government, Arce won a landslide election victory in October 2020. This cleared the way for party member Morales to return home. Añez was found guilty of orchestrating a coup against Morales and sentenced to ten years in prison.

The MAS party of Morales and Arce will kick off the primaries during a congress next week and make a selection of candidates for the presidency and vice-president. Under Bolivia’s constitution, a president can serve two consecutive terms, while Morales has served three.

Arce’s Justice Minister Ivan Lima has said Bolivia’s Constitutional Court should decide whether Morales can legally run again for what would be a fourth term interrupted by Arce’s five years in office.