The Bolivian government has refuted former President Evo Morales’s claims of being the victim of an assassination attempt by police and instead accused Morales of staging the incident himself. The government stated that shots were fired at Morales’s car after he tried to run a police checkpoint. Morales, however, maintains that the government targeted him, resulting in his driver being wounded and his car being hit by bullets while he was en route to a radio station in Cochabamba. Minister of Government Eduardo del Castillo denied that Morales was deliberately targeted, claiming that Morales’s convoy shot at police and ran over an officer.
The government also accused Morales’s vehicles of being involved in transporting drugs and claimed that Morales instructed them to be burned after the incident, destroying any potential evidence before it could be collected. The radio station hosting Morales’s interview released a video showing the bullet-ridden pick-up truck Morales was in, with the windscreen having three bullet holes and the driver sustaining a head injury. The incident has escalated tensions in Bolivia, with Morales’s supporters blocking highways and security forces attempting to clear them. The government criticized Morales for destabilizing the country with road blockades that disrupted food and fuel supply nationwide.
The ongoing tensions between Morales and current President Luis Arce, who belong to the same Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, have intensified due to a power struggle ahead of the 2025 presidential elections. The country is facing challenges such as dwindling gas production, depleted foreign currency reserves, and rising inflation, which are placing pressure on the government and leading to increased political infighting. Morales is also facing legal issues, including allegations of relationships with minors for which he has been formally summoned by regional prosecutors but has not appeared, resulting in an arrest warrant being issued.
The clash between Morales and the government has resulted in violent confrontations, with police attempting to dismantle roadblocks set up by Morales’s supporters leading to injuries on both sides. The government has accused some groups allied with Morales of being armed and warned of potential violence. Morales’s defiance and refusal to cooperate with legal proceedings have further exacerbated the situation, with the government accusing him of manipulating the incident for political gain. The dispute between Morales and the government highlights the deep-rooted divisions and power struggles within Bolivia’s political landscape, which are intensifying as the country faces economic challenges and social unrest.
