President Morales Calls for Electoral Body Supervision of MAS Congress Amid Political Tensions in Bolivia

The former president of Bolivia and leader of the ruling Movement towards Socialism (MAS), Evo Morales, announced that his party congress will be held next Monday. He presented a legal appeal for the electoral body to supervise the meeting in which a new board will be elected. Morales stated that invitations have already been sent out to President Luis Arce, Vice President David Choquehuanca, ministers, and ambassadors. The congress will take place in Villa Tunaria town in the Tropic of Cochabamba, which is the political and union stronghold of MAS.

Morales explained that the congress will have 1,300 regular delegates, along with at least 20,000 colleagues who will participate. He also mentioned that he submitted a memorial to the First Constitutional Chamber of La Paz requesting a precautionary measure to guarantee the congress. Morales expressed hope that the electoral body would authorize the supervision of the congress on June 10 amid tensions with President Arce’s ruling bloc.

President Arce has been ruling Bolivia since January 2021, but his government has faced criticism from Morales and other leaders within MAS over issues such as economic policy and governance. The two factions have also been at odds over leadership issues within MAS, with Morales accusing Arce of betraying his promises to maintain socialist policies in Bolivia.

Despite these tensions, Morales said he hoped that they could be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. He also called on all parties involved to respect democratic processes and ensure that the congress is conducted fairly and transparently.

The congress is scheduled to take place at the Villa Tunari stadium on Monday amid growing concerns about security in Cochabamba province. There have been reports of violence between pro-Morales supporters and police forces in recent months.

Overall, it remains unclear whether Morales’ call for supervision by the electoral body will be granted or not. However, one thing is certain: Bolivia continues to be divided politically even as it grapples with economic challenges such as high inflation rates and rising poverty levels.