Bolivian ex-president Evo Morales campaigned in exile in Argentina

"We are going to win the next election." A refugee in Argentina, ousted Bolivian President Evo Morales on Tuesday (December 18th) declared his determination to help his party, the Movement towards Socialism (MAS), to win the future elections in Bolivia.

"My obligation, now that I am not a candidate, that I am not president, is to accompany the candidates so that they can win," justified during a press conference Evo Morales, who had to flee his country and give up his post on November 10 after fourteen years in power.

Released by the police and the army, Evo Morales had to cede power on November 10, after a campaign of demonstrations against the official announcement of his victory in the first round of the Bolivian presidential election. The opposition and the Organization of American States (OAS) considered that the election had been marred by fraud.

From President to Campaign Director

At the end of November, the Bolivian parliament passed a law calling for presidential and legislative elections, declaring that the former socialist president would not have the right to be a candidate. If no date has yet been set, Evo Morales does not want to be just a spectator. And his party agrees: the MAS voted on December 7 to lead the campaign.

"I appreciate the confidence you have placed in me by appointing me campaign manager," he reacted on Twitter after the decision of his party assembled in Assembly in Cochabamba, in central Bolivia. "We will elect a unitary candidate and win the elections again in the first round. Thank you for not abandoning me, I will always be with you. Together we will win".

Agradezco the confianza por numme jefe de campaña. Elegiremos has a candidato unitario y nuevamente ganaremos las elecciones en primera vuelta. Gracias por no abandonarme, yo siempre estaré con ustedes. Juntos seguiremos haciendo historia como hasta ahora ¡Unidos venceremos! pic.twitter.com/UCypg7rxPZ

Officials of the Movement towards Socialism went to Buenos Aires in mid-December to define with him the party's strategy for the upcoming elections.

Asked Tuesday about the future candidate of the MAS, the former president replied: "We are debating it. We will present the best candidate, someone who defends not only the indigenous vote, but also that of the class average and business leaders. "

Among the possible candidates for the ex-president's camp, include Andronico Rodriguez, young peasant leader of coca producers, or Adriana Salvatierra, ex-president of the Senate.

An arrest warrant soon to be issued?

Worried about the good course of the future elections, the former Bolivian president called on December 16 for the sending to Bolivia of an international mission which would guarantee the holding of free and transparent elections.

"We need an electoral mission from the United Nations, representatives of Pope Francis, from friendly countries, to guarantee free and transparent elections and respect for the results," said Evo Morales in an interview on the television channel. C5N from Buenos Aires, in which he also believed "to be persecuted" and that Bolivia was today "under dictatorship".

In response, Yerko Nunez, minister responsible for managing the presidency, said he regretted that Evo Morales "does not want to return to his country to create divisions".

>> Read also: In Bolivia, a government fighting Morals

In addition, the interim Bolivian president, Jeanine Añez, announced Saturday the imminent emission of a warrant of arrest against Evo Morales, on which an investigation was opened by the new capacity for sedition and terrorism.

Argentina, a perfect base camp

Pending the outcome of the investigation, Evo Morales has obtained refugee status from Argentina. This destination owes nothing to chance. The new Argentine president, the Peronist Alberto Fernandez, is a loyal supporter of the former Bolivian head of state. His government has also refused to recognize the provisional government of Jeanine Añez.

Agradezco a los hermanos Alberto y Cristina, Presidente y Vicepresidenta de #Argentina, por recibirme y garantizar refugio político. Expreso mi respeto, cariño y admiración por su compromo con la #PatriaGrande, la verdad y los Derechos Políticos de los pueblos de América Latina pic.twitter.com/8n6hXqQHrm

His new refugee status theoretically prevents Evo Morales from commenting on the Bolivian political situation. However, Argentina is determined to give it some leeway on the subject.

"Evo Morales is a refugee in our country. Refugees have the same rights as any Argentinian. He can speak freely. No one is going to restrict freedom. Obviously, he will do it with great responsibility", ruled Santiago Cafiero, the Prime Minister of Argentina, in a statement to the newspaper Tiempo Argentino.

Finally, the choice of Argentina as a country of refuge is also motivated by electoral reasons. With its status as a neighboring country, Evo Morales stays as close as possible to the Bolivians. Moreover, the Bolivian diaspora is very important there. According to the last census dating from 2010, 350,000 Bolivian nationals live there, or 19% of foreign residents. A figure well below the estimates of Bolivian associations. According to the latter, between one and two million Bolivians work or live in Argentina.

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