Bolivia Faces Rising Tensions: Rival Protests Erupt as Morales Leads March to Capital
Thousands of Bolivians gather on the streets in support of former President Evo Morales, partaking in a 118 mile “March to Save Bolivia” from the village of Caracollo to the political capital of La Paz. The civil unrest is a response to the intense rivalry between President Morales and his former economy minister, now current President Luis Arce, as they vie for leadership of Bolivia's socialist party, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), ahead of the 2025 elections.
Supporters of former president Evo Morales take to the streets carrying multicolor flags, representative of indigenous Andean culture. The flags become synonymous with support for Morales, as the country’s first indigenous president.
This turmoil traces back to Morales's forced resignation after thirteen years in power, following a controversial third-term election marred by allegations of fraud, which ignited widespread outrage and protests. Fearing for his safety, he sought asylum in Argentina in 2019. Before leaving, he handpicked his friend-turned-foe to be MAS's presidential candidate. A year later, to his surprise, he returned home to find a groundswell of support waiting for him.
In recent years, Bolivians have faced significant challenges due to economic turmoil in the small South American nation, which has long been reliant on U.S. dollars and is now experiencing a shortage of them. This situation has made imports more difficult, leading to worsening fuel shortages. Meanwhile, inflation continues to rise even with the presence of subsidies. Despite this, President Arce has dismissed claims of a crisis, asserting, "Bolivia has an economy that’s growing. An economy in crisis doesn’t grow," Arce said in an interview with the Associated Press. His response, or lack thereof, to the crisis has diminished his public support and led many to renew their faith in Morales. It is important to note that Morales’ and Arce’s economic models are essentially the same, one acting as the continuation of the other.
Morales showed his frustration on X, tweeting, “The march is the response of a people fed up with their unthinking government, which has maintained absolute silence in the face of the crisis, corruption and the destruction of stability.” With no faith left in their current president, Morales supporters stormed the streets and were soon met with counterprotesters in the dusty expanse of El Alto. Protesters and counterprotesters exchanged firecrackers, homemade explosives, and stones to be met with police firing tear gas into the fray. Both sides blame the escalating violence on their opposition.
Police interfere and throw gas at supporters of Evo Morales.
Arce's government has voiced its dismay to the protests, accusing Morales of inciting a coup and endangering Bolivia's democracy. The protests are expected to culminate in La Paz at the end of the week. If they persist, increased security measures and disruptions to transportation and businesses could impact La Paz and neighboring regions, raising concerns about the implications as the elections approach.