On Monday evening, Bolivia’s Supreme Election Court (TSE) announced that former president Evo Morales will be banned from participating in the upcoming general election on August 17, citing the rejection of his irregular candidacy.
Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, had sought to run for a fifth term despite the Bolivian constitution’s two-term limit. He attempted to exploit various legal loopholes to circumvent these restrictions, successfully securing an unconstitutional fourth term previously.
Last week, the Bolivian constitutional court reaffirmed that Morales cannot run for president due to term limits. Despite this, his legal team responded with a dismissive attitude toward the court’s ruling.
On Monday, the final day of the registration period, supporters of Morales tried to register him under the Bolivian National Action Party (PAN-BOL), which had a legal status. However, the TSE confirmed that this party’s status was canceled, leaving them unable to proceed.
“Evo-Pueblo isn’t a party with valid legal status, so we can’t register candidates,” a TSE official stated.
Morales and his main lawyer, Wilfredo Chavez, issued conflicting statements. While Morales maintained that they met all requirements and filed through the TSE’s online platform, Chavez claimed they emailed their candidate list instead of utilizing the online registration, which is restricted to legally recognized parties.
Additionally, Morales’ supporters have threatened unrest if he is not allowed to run. They expressed intentions to “revolutionize” the streets if he isn’t registered by the deadline.
As tensions rise, Morales’ struggles have highlighted an internal conflict within the ruling Socialist Movement (MAS) party, particularly against the backdrop of current president Luis Arce. Morales’ efforts have sparked a leftist power struggle affecting the party’s nearly two-decade hold on power.
In recent developments, Arce announced he wouldn’t seek re-election and encouraged the MAS to unite. Meanwhile, government minister Eduardo del Castillo has been named the ruling presidential candidate, having resigned from his ministerial role.
Andronico Rodriguez, often seen as Morales’ successor, is trying to establish his candidacy amidst lingering doubts regarding his eligibility and party status. He has cautioned that some members of the constitutional court might be risking serious consequences by yielding to political pressure.
The TSE has received over 2,500 candidate registrations, with each party reportedly presenting around 350 candidates for the upcoming elections. A final list of eligible candidates will be released on June 6. Samuel Doria Medina, a businessman, plans to run for president under the “Unification Alliance,” a coalition opposing MAS.
