Bolivia interim president rules out Morales election bid

Bolivian interim president Jeanine Anez speaks during a press conference in La Paz on November 15, 2019. She ruled out exiled leader Evo Morales' bid for a fourth term in office. PHOTO | RONALDO SCHEMIDT | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Bolivia's constitution limits a president to two successive terms. Morales has had three.
  • Bolivian unrest erupted when Morales was accused of rigging the results of October 20 polls to gain re-election for a fourth term.
  • Jeanine Anez proclaimed herself acting president on Tuesday after Morales fled the country for Mexico.

La Paz

Bolivia's interim president Jeanine Anez on Thursday ruled out exiled leader Evo Morales from standing in new elections as thousands of demonstrators marched through La Paz in support of the socialist icon and against the new, acting leader.

Columns of people streamed into the seat of government La Paz from the neighbouring town of El Alto for the second day running to press their argument that Morales's departure was not a resignation but the product of a coup.

Waving multicoloured "wiphala" indigenous flags, many of the demonstrators chanted: "The time is now, civil war" and "Come back Evo!"

The interim government announced on Thursday that talks with Morales's Movement for Socialism (MAS) party had begun in a bid to bring peace to the deeply polarized country.

Pledging early elections, Anez -- until now a little-known lawmaker -- proclaimed herself acting president on Tuesday after Morales fled the country for Mexico, claiming to fear for his safety amid deadly protests. Her move was validated by the country's top court.

Unrest erupted when Morales -- Bolivia's first indigenous president -- was accused of rigging the results of October 20 polls to gain re-election for a fourth term.

BARRED FROM ELECTIONS

But Anez, 52, said Morales could not take part in any new elections -- Bolivia's constitution limits a president to two successive terms.

"Evo Morales is not allowed to stand for a fourth term. That's why we've had all this upheaval," said Anez.

With tensions still high, the government said it had opened negotiations with MAS lawmakers, who previously boycotted the senate session in which Anez declared herself president.

"We have set up talks and we believe we can bring peace to the country," said Anez's cabinet chief Jerjes Justiniano.

The claim could not immediately be confirmed with the MAS party.

MORALES’ SUPPORTERS

Thursday's protests included Morales supporters like the "red ponchos" -- members of the Aymara indigenous people.

"We are calling for the resignation of this racist president, this putschist," said Juan Gutierrez, an Aymara.

Morales has kept up attacks on the new government from his exile in Mexico.

In a Thursday interview with Mexican broadcaster Televisa, he denied responsibility for the political crisis and said there was nothing he would have done differently during his three terms as president.

"I have never thought of harming the Bolivian people," he added.

Anez told reporters on Thursday that new Foreign Minister Karen Longari would "make representations" to Mexico to insist that Morales be held to the terms of his political asylum and prevented from interfering in Bolivia's politics.

Mexico responded that "a refugee's freedom of expression cannot be subject to greater limitations than any other Mexican civilian."