“Either Arce goes, or Morales goes to jail” | “O Arce se va o Morales va a la cárcel”

ByJuan Carlos Veliz, Eju.tv:

“Either Arce goes, or Morales goes to jail,” political analyst presents dilemma for resolving Bolivia’s crisis.

“Evo Morales, beyond the myth that some believe about him—which isn’t entirely true—knows how to march, block roads, but also knows when to leave, to go, to escape,” he pointed out.

Bolivia has entered day 18 of a roadblock organized by groups loyal to former president Evo Morales on main roads in the departments of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Potosí, as the government struggles to resolve the conflict. Amid this standoff, political analyst Marcelo Silva proposed a dilemma that could determine the end of the political crisis: either President Luis Arce resigns, or former President Evo Morales is sent to prison.

“When it reaches a point where no resolution seems possible, this becomes the choice: either Arce goes, or Morales goes to jail. That’s the way to resolve the conflict,” the specialist remarked in an interview with the program No Mentirás.

The former president’s followers are demanding the dismissal of judicial cases against him, including charges of human trafficking and aggravated statutory rape involving a 15-year-old minor in the department of Tarija, among others.

However, the conflict also reflects an internal war within MAS-IPSP, the party that brought Morales to the presidency in 2005 and Luis Arce in 2020. The party now faces a division that has thrown the entire country into suspense.

“It would frighten me to think that after such a regrettable scenario like this, we’re seeing something very rare in history, with a party tearing itself apart in this way. I even think of the MNR, which also had extreme division, an implosion, but they didn’t reach this level of destruction. It seems to me that both scenarios are possible; it’s very likely that Arce’s government could fall because it doesn’t have popular support, it doesn’t have citizen support; it’s a weak government,” he evaluated.

President Luis Arce and his party leader, Evo Morales, at an event when the MAS was still united. / Photo: Archive

Although the regulations allow the Executive branch to use public force to quell protests or armed uprisings, and despite requests from productive sectors for a state of emergency to be declared, the President has yet to make a decision, leaving the population uncertain.

“Morales is clinging tooth and nail to a sector, a targeted blockade, and an excessive level of violence that will eventually impact citizens,” Silva stated.

At this stage of the conflict, analyses of the current situation are suggesting the possibility of Luis Arce’s resignation. In that scenario, the position would have to be assumed by the Vice President or the President of the Senate, the latter potentially playing a key role.

Andrónico Rodríguez, the current President of that chamber, will attempt to lead it again if he can reach a consensus with other political forces.

Asked about the real possibility of Evo Morales being detained to face legal proceedings against him, Silva expressed surprise at the “failed” operation reported on Sunday, which the former president denounced as an assassination attempt. This, apparently, was a warning from the government for him to consider leaving the country.

“I can’t understand why they would conduct a failed operation; it seems to be an act of intimidation—‘we’re coming for you; it didn’t happen this time, but next time it might, and if you resist, things could go badly for you.’ That seems to be the message,” Silva noted, as shortly after, Juan Ramón Quintana, former Minister of the Presidency and a loyal supporter of Morales, suggested that the ex-president leave for another country, as Bolivia might no longer be safe for him.

“Evo Morales, beyond the myth people may believe about him—which isn’t entirely accurate—knows how to march, how to block, but he also knows how to leave, how to go, how to escape,” he remarked.

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