(La Paz) Former Bolivian President Evo Morales, leading a march that began a week ago and arrived Monday at its destination in La Paz, issued an ultimatum to President Luis Arce, urging him to change government within 24 hours “if he wants to continue governing.”
“If you like [Luis Arce] “If he wants to continue to govern, he must first, within 24 hours, change the drug-trafficking ministers, the corrupt ministers, the drug-addicted ministers, the racist ministers,” he said, without mentioning any of them in particular.
The former president (2006-2019) led a 190 km “March to Save Bolivia” from the highlands to the capital to protest against economic difficulties, the shortage of dollars and fuel in this South American country.
“Why this march? To say […] “Enough betrayal and especially enough corruption, enough protection of drug trafficking and enough mismanagement,” Morales told thousands of supporters gathered at the entrance to La Paz, AFP reported.
PHOTO JUAN KARITA, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Evo Morales is behind the largest protests against the government he helped elect, whose term ends in November 2025.
The authorities consider this initiative as an attempted “coup d’état”.
Mr. Morales also threatened the government to resolve the fuel shortage “within 24 hours,” otherwise “the mobilizations will continue.”
In a televised message on Sunday, Mr Arce warned that he “will not allow” a “civil war” to break out in his country after the various clashes between his supporters and those of Evo Morales which have left 34 people injured since the start of the march.
Evo Morales is behind the largest protests against the government he helped elect, whose term ends in November 2025.
Luis Arce was Evo Morales’ economy minister during his 13 years in power, but the two are now rivals for the ruling party’s nomination for the 2025 presidential election. Morales wants to run despite being barred by the courts. However, he is trying, with the support of a wing of his party, to force the courts to give in.