Bolivia erupts over Morales election ban
Bolivian riot police clashed with supporters of former President Evo Morales and coca farmers during anti-government protests. The unrest erupted after a constitutional court upheld a ban preventing Morales from running in the upcoming August election, citing term limits. In response, demonstrators demanded that Morales be allowed to participate, arguing that the ruling was politically motivated.
Protests intensified as Morales loyalists marched toward the Government Palace in La Paz, where they faced riot police who deployed rubber bullets and tear gas. Protesters retaliated by throwing rocks, firecrackers, and setting tires ablaze. Similar confrontations occurred in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, leading to injuries and numerous detentions, according to local human rights observers.
Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous president, ruled from 2006 to 2019 and remains a divisive figure. His bid for a fourth term has split his party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), with some leaders supporting his candidacy while others call for new leadership to avoid further division. Morales has condemned the tribunal's ruling as an attack on democracy and urged his supporters to maintain peaceful resistance.
International observers have raised alarms over the escalating violence and urged Bolivian authorities to ensure free and fair elections. Human rights groups warn that the government's heavy-handed tactics could exacerbate unrest. With the election just weeks away, Bolivia's political landscape appears increasingly unstable, raising concerns that ongoing turmoil may deepen divisions and erode confidence in democratic institutions.
