Supporters of former Bolivia president Evo Morales marched in La Paz on Friday (17) to demand that the former president is allowed to register as a candidate for the presidential election of 17 August, despite the decisions of the Constitutional Court that prevent him from doing so.
Protesters marched the city streets shouting slogans like “We are all Evo” and “Evo is not alone.”
During the protest, there were some clashes between the participants and the police, in which the agents fired tear gas. According to a report from AP, two police officers, a journalist and a local merchant were injured.
In response to these events, Morales and the government exchanged accusations. On the one hand, the former president said in his X account that his supporters “were brutally repressed.” On the other hand, the Deputy Minister of Communications, Gabriela Alcon, attributed the violence to the supporters of Morales, according to statements by the Bolivian News Agency (ABI).
THE CNN He contacted the Interior Ministry to request more information about what happened – including if someone was injured or arrested – and is waiting for an answer.
Last week, during a public event, Morales announced Friday’s march to demand that he could register as a presidential candidate.
Dispute over the legality of the registration
The former president defends his aspiration to run again for the presidency, despite the decision of the Constitutional Court that, since 2024, no ruler can seek a second reelection, whether continuous or discontinuous. On Wednesday (14), the Federal Supreme Court confirmed the decision.
“It will be registered in history that Bolivia’s Plurinational Constitutional Court has decided to resolve an issue that has been a source of political dispute in recent years, through a fully grounded constitutional decision, in strict compliance with the principles of the state’s political constitution,” said the president of the court, Gonzalo Miguel Hurtado, that day.
THE CNN He contacted the court to comment on Morales’s request to be registered as a candidate and is awaiting an answer.
The deadline for registering candidates for presidential elections ends at midnight this Monday. The Superior Electoral Court will announce the list of qualified candidates around June 6, ABI said.
In a message this week, President Luis Arce announced that he will not seek reelection and asked Morales to do the same. The former president rejected the request.
This content was originally published in supporters require Evo Morales to be authorized to compete in elections on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
