• Latin America.The Evo Morales party maintains its advantage in Bolivia's polls

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has announced tonight (early morning in Spain), after a long debate, that Evo Morales will not be a candidate for Senator for Cochabamba in the May general elections. The new entity, rebuilt from top to bottom after last year's electoral fraud, has communicated to the country a controversial decision, but advanced days ago by the Movement To Socialism (MAS).

On the other hand, Luis Arce, presidential candidate of the indigenous revolution and former Minister of Economy of Morales, was qualified and will attend as the main favorite for the presidential election. Arce leads all the polls to win in the first electoral round, but not with enough votes to avoid the June ballot.

"We have proceeded to the analysis of the specific cases, considering the situation of the candidates with respect to their residences in the constituencies of their application ... For not fulfilling the requirement of permanent residence, (there is) the disqualification of the candidacy of Evo Morales for Cochabamba, "said Santiago Romero, head of the TSE. The same fate that Evo have run by former Foreign Minister Diego Pary and former Mayor Marío Cossío.

"The decision of the TSE is a blow against democracy. Its members know that I meet all the requirements to be a candidate. The ultimate goal is the proscription of the MAS," denounced the Aymara leader, who maintains his exile in Buenos Aires, although the week He traveled to Havana to continue his medical treatments.

In the Argentine capital, the pre-campaign of MAS has continued, with Argentine President Alberto Fernández supporting its leaders. "If I were Bolivian, I would vote for you," the president said after meeting with Arce and Morales.

On the contrary, the former presidential candidate Carlos Mesa, the main one affected by last year's fraud, believes . "The TSE correctly applies the law and the Plurinational Constitution by disabling those who did not meet the requirements to apply for elective positions. Evo Morales, who digitized the gigantic fraud in the 2019 elections, must understand that he can no longer use the law according to his interests, "said Mesa, whose candidacy for May marches in second position after Arce, according to polls, in hard conflict with the provisional president, Jeanine Áñez.

"Possibly the political pressure has played for the TSE to advance criteria according to the electoral calendar. This may be the observation of the MAS, however it is an observation of form, not of substance. The TSE has the same hierarchical rank as another state power, just like the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP). With this decision, it sets a legal precedent, unlike the 2018 TCP Judgment, "political analyst Marcelo Arequipa explained to EL MUNDO .

"Once this phase of legal discussion is over, this makes us strictly visualize the political scenario. From now on we will see the real electoral game, which is what ultimately matters to the voter," Arequipa said.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Bolivia
  • Evo Morales
  • international

Latin AmericaEvo Morales introduces himself to senator in the May elections of Bolivia

Latin America The Evo Morales party maintains its advantage in Bolivia's polls

Latin AmericaJeanine Áñez announces her candidacy for general elections in Bolivia