It is urgent to reorganize the country | Es tarea urgente reordenar el país

Editorial, El Diario:

After nearly 20 years of MAS-led governments, with the interim administration of Jeanine Áñez in between, the general elections next year present an opportunity to correct the enormous mistakes made during this period. As public opinion has repeatedly pointed out, public institutions have been dismantled, particularly when they were taken over as political spoils by MAS to appoint its loyalists.

As a result, disorder reigns in our country today, where a referendum has been disregarded, the Legislative Assembly operates irregularly with disgraceful clashes between Evo supporters and Arce supporters, a judicial election that fails to inspire public trust, an economic crisis, shortages of fuel and dollars, infamous roadblocks that primarily harm the poorest and the productive sector, the extension of magistrates’ terms, and more.

The worst part is that when Evo supporters feel aggrieved by the application of legal proceedings against some of their members, they cry foul, as if they had not governed alongside Arce’s faction for many years. They conveniently forget their joint efforts to carry out fierce persecution against opponents, some of whom remain imprisoned while others live in exile.

It is regrettable that a party like MAS, whose spokespeople unabashedly label it as the “largest,” the “most important in national history,” and so on, has limited itself to making demagogic promises. Their “process of change” saw fleeting success only when state coffers were overflowing with revenues from gas sales and other raw materials during periods of high prices. Without foresight or the capacity to plan for the benefit of all Bolivians, without odious discrimination, the immense economic resources received were squandered and particularly enriched those aligned with the blue party.

Today, in a time of scarcity, with the current government lacking another significant source of income like gas, social discontent is growing. This is exacerbated by official propaganda about measures supposedly aimed at improving the country’s current critical situation, which seem more like temporary fixes. Adding to this negative outlook is the infighting between Evo and Arce factions, leading to proliferating accusations of corruption and various crimes, without thorough investigations to hold those responsible accountable. However, it is hard to believe that firefighters would step on each other’s hoses. The worst part is that this internal party struggle distracts attention from critically important issues like those mentioned above.

Consequently, the new government emerging in 2025 will have much work to do to reorganize the country and set it on the path to genuine development, with solid institutions and efficient personnel, avoiding demagogic and discriminatory policies.

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