Bolivian Parliament gives green light to new elections without Evo Morales

The Bolivian parliament on Saturday (November 23rd) approved a bill providing for the organization of presidential and legislative elections without former president Evo Morales. The text must now be promulgated by Acting President Jeanine Añez to become law.

At the same time, the Provisional Government has opened a "dialogue" to try to pacify Bolivia, where 32 people have died in violence since the October 20 presidential election.

Former President Evo Morales had declared himself the winner, but the opposition had shouted "fraud". After several weeks of demonstrations and his release by the army, the president in office since 2006 announced his resignation on November 10. Since then, his supporters are demonstrating almost daily in La Paz and other cities to demand the departure of Jeanine Añez.

The text approved by the Parliament provides in particular for the annulment of the 20 October ballot. At the same time, it forbids anyone who has served two consecutive terms to run for a third, closing the door to a new candidacy of Evo Morales who has already served three terms.

Evo Morales' own party, the Movement to Socialism (MAS), which has a majority in Parliament, voted in favor of the bill, highlighting its divisions over the former president. Since his Mexican exile, the latter had not spoken Saturday on this text.

"Pacify" Bolivia

By taking the reins of Bolivia on November 12, Jeanine Añez, a former right-wing senator, promised the organization of new elections to "pacify" Bolivia, which is experiencing its worst crisis in nearly twenty years.

For a little over a week, supporters of Evo Morales demanding the departure of Jeanine Añez block roads linking La Paz agricultural areas of central Bolivia.

The administrative capital suffers from serious food shortages and the inhabitants of Santa Cruz, Bolivia's granary located in the central plains, flock to the airport to send food to their relatives in La Paz.

Evo Morales went into exile after nearly 14 years at the head of the Andean country. He and his supporters believe he was the victim of a "coup d'etat".

For its part, the interim government of Jeanine Añez accuses Evo Morales of stirring up the conflict from Mexico. Interior Minister Arturo Murillo said on Friday that he has filed a lawsuit against him for "sedition and terrorism," saying he has called on his supporters to "encircle" the cities to increase blockages. The prosecution has opened an investigation.

With AFP