PEACE.- The former president of Bolivia, Evo Moraleslaunched strong accusations this Sunday against the current president Luis Arcesuggesting that a military farce they have called an “attempted coup” could have been a self-coup orchestrated by the government itself.
Arce denies the alleged self-coup. Disputes between the two leaders of the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) worsened after Morales announced his intention to run in the 2025 elections, in which Arce could seek a second term. Analysts even point out that the president is already campaigning.
In this sense, Morales expressed his confusion and distrust towards Arce, whom he accuses of deceiving the Bolivian people and the international community. “I thought it was a coup, but now I’m confused: it seems like a self-coup,” Morales said, adding that he has received information that leads him to believe that Arce intended to hand over control of the country to a military junta to prevent his own return to power.
Evo Morales was one of the first to “denounce” last Wednesday’s military uprising, in which troops led by former army commander Juan José Zúñiga besieged the presidential palace with tanks. However, Morales is now raising doubts about the true nature of these events, suggesting that Arce may have manipulated the situation to consolidate his power.
Arce and Morales, who were close allies during Morales’ long tenure, are now vying for the leadership of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) ahead of the 2025 presidential elections amid an economic crisis in the country and a loss of support.
Morales also criticized the recent appointment of the general Jose Sanchez as army commander, saying he was involved in planning the alleged coup. These accusations add to the doubts already raised by Morales about the veracity of the official version of events provided by the Arce government.
The president said that “Evo Morales is no longer president” of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and that “his mandate expired in 2016.”
Zúñiga, who is currently in custody, said he acted under Arce’s orders to carry out actions aimed at boosting his popularity, a claim the president flatly denied. Meanwhile, the government arrested 21 people, including active and retired military personnel as well as civilians, for their involvement in the uprising.
The confrontation in the square in front of the presidential palace resulted in 14 civilians injured by pellets fired by the rebel military, who withdrew without further clashes with forces loyal to the government. This situation has generated a climate of tension and mistrust, increasing doubts about political stability in Bolivia.
Source: With information from AFP
