Evo Morales, Bolivia’s former president, claimed his car was shot at in an assassination attempt, with his political party accusing the government of President Luis Arce of complicity. Morales stated that the attack involved military and police collaboration, resulting in injuries to his driver. Both leaders are vying for the presidential candidacy in 2025, amidst a backdrop of legal challenges faced by Morales and ongoing protests by his supporters.
Evo Morales, the former president of Bolivia, reported on Sunday that the vehicle he was in was shot at in what he termed an assassination attempt. In a video shared on social media, Morales showcased what appeared to be multiple bullet holes in the windshield of his car, where he was seated in the front seat. Morales’s political party, the Movement for Socialism (Mas), claimed that unidentified assailants clad in black opened fire on his vehicle as it passed a military compound. The party subsequently accused the administration of President Luis Arce of complicity in the attack, holding the government accountable. In response to these allegations, President Arce denounced political violence and committed to conducting an investigation into the incident, despite the fact that both he and Morales are affiliated with the Mas party and have recently experienced a deterioration in their relationship due to their simultaneous intentions to be the party’s candidate for the upcoming 2025 presidential election. Morales asserted that the incident was orchestrated as a “joint operation between military and police forces,” highlighting that a bullet narrowly missed him and that his driver sustained injuries during the event. This shooting took place close to Bolivia’s Ninth Division Army base in Villa Tunari, as stated by Morales. A faction within the Mas party that supports Morales contended that those responsible for the attack had entered the military barracks prior to escaping via military helicopter. They characterized the incident as symptomatic of a broader struggle against what they perceive as a fascist regime in power. Morales, who served as president from 2006 until 2019, currently faces several legal challenges, including allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking, charges which he vehemently denies. His supporters have engaged in protests, blocking significant roadways and clashing with police forces in various locations throughout the country. Morales maintains that these legal accusations are part of a politically motivated scheme orchestrated by his opponents after he was ousted from the presidency under contested allegations of electoral fraud in 2019.
Evo Morales, a prominent political figure in Bolivia, previously served as the country’s first Indigenous president from 2006 until his resignation in 2019. His tenure ended amid significant political turmoil characterized by allegations of electoral fraud in the presidential election of that year. Following his departure, Morales lived in exile for nearly a year before returning to Bolivia. He has been involved in Bolivian politics ever since, asserting his innocence regarding various accusations leveled against him, which he argues are part of a right-wing effort to delegitimize his leadership and influence.
The reported assassination attempt on Evo Morales points to the escalating political tensions in Bolivia, especially between Morales and President Luis Arce, despite their alliance within the Mas party. With Morales alleging military and police complicity and the government promising an investigation, the standoff between their factions continues to create an environment of unrest. Morales’s legal battles and the ongoing protests underscore the fraught political landscape in the country, suggesting that this incident may not be an isolated occurrence but rather part of a larger conflict over leadership and power in Bolivia.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
