Morales supporters push null-vote campaign
Exclusion from ballot fuels protests and deepens Bolivia's political divide
Supporters of former Bolivian President Evo Morales have initiated a national campaign advocating for null votes in the upcoming general elections, following his exclusion from the ballot. This movement has sparked protests and the establishment of campaign offices aimed at promoting "voto nulo" as a form of resistance against the current political landscape. Activists have set up tents and organized street rallies, particularly in areas like Santa Cruz's Plan 3000, where they argue that all public officials have extended their terms unlawfully and rigged the democratic process.
The campaign underscores the divisions within Bolivia's left, as Morales's supporters seek to disrupt an election that will be held without his presence for the first time in nearly three decades. The Constitutional Court's recent decision to uphold the two-term limit for presidents has officially barred Morales, who governed from 2006 to 2019, from running again. His party has lost its registration, and he is now at odds with the governing Movement for Socialism (MAS), which is currently led by Senate President Andrónico Rodríguez.
Morales-aligned groups contend that none of the current candidates genuinely represent Indigenous communities or social sectors, viewing the entire electoral slate as complicit in the "criminalization" of social protest. Observers express concern that a significant number of null votes could exacerbate political fragmentation and inadvertently benefit opposition figures, particularly neoliberal frontrunner Samuel Doria Medina, who is currently leading in polls.
The situation has been further complicated by recent protests that turned violent, resulting in multiple fatalities and raising fears that the null-vote strategy could destabilize an already polarized nation. Election authorities have stated that voting will proceed as planned and will closely monitor any tactics aimed at undermining turnout or pressuring candidates.
