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On 10 November 2019, after [[2019 Bolivian protests|19 days of civil protests]] following the disputed [[2019 Bolivian general election|election results of October 2019]] and the release of a report from [[Organization of American States|OAS]] alleging election irregularities, Morales offered a new election overseen by an independent electoral commission overseen by the OAS and other international organizations. Within two hours later, the [[Armed Forces of Bolivia|military]] and the [[law enforcement in Bolivia|police]] of [[Bolivia]] "suggested" that president [[Evo Morales]] resign. Morales resigned the same day, followed by the remainder of his cabinet and the leaders of his party, [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement for Socialism (MAS)]], throughout the day, some citing fears for the safety of their families. Foreign Minister of Mexico [[Marcelo Ebrard]] offered [[political asylum]] to Morales the following day; which Morales accepted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bolivia crisis: Evo Morales accepts political asylum in Mexico |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50383608 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=12 November 2019|work=BBC News |date=12 November 2019 }}</ref>
On 10 November 2019, after [[2019 Bolivian protests|19 days of civil protests]] following the disputed [[2019 Bolivian general election|election results of October 2019]] and the release of a report from [[Organization of American States|OAS]] alleging election irregularities, Morales offered a new election overseen by an independent electoral commission overseen by the OAS and other international organizations. Within two hours later, the [[Armed Forces of Bolivia|military]] and the [[law enforcement in Bolivia|police]] of [[Bolivia]] "suggested" that president [[Evo Morales]] resign. Morales resigned the same day, followed by the remainder of his cabinet and the leaders of his party, [[Movement for Socialism (Bolivia)|Movement for Socialism (MAS)]], throughout the day, some citing fears for the safety of their families. Foreign Minister of Mexico [[Marcelo Ebrard]] offered [[political asylum]] to Morales the following day; which Morales accepted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bolivia crisis: Evo Morales accepts political asylum in Mexico |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50383608 |publisher=BBC |accessdate=12 November 2019|work=BBC News |date=12 November 2019 }}</ref>


Following the resignations, opposition senator [[Jeanine Áñez]], declared herself president on 12 November, with the majority of the Senate absent in protest, and to deny a constitutional [[quorum]] for the vote.<ref name="El País" /> Bolivia's [[Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal]] then confirmed Áñez's assumption of power amid growing counter protests by Morales's supporters, especially in the rural and traditionally indigenous regions of the country.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/16/780118421/8-killed-in-bolivia-as-protesters-call-for-return-of-ousted-president-evo-morale|date=11/15/2019}}</ref> The new government passed a secret decree temporarily granting impunity to the army and police from criminal prosecution out investigation while they "act in the legitimate defense of the state,"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/11/17/america/1574014107_965320.html|Alarm in Bolivia at Impunity for Army Repressing Protests}}</ref> which lead to the detention of journalists labeled as "seditious" and the deaths of 23 protesters and the injuring of over 715.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www-washingtonpost-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/19/bolivia-is-falling-into-grips-brutal-right-wing-regime/}}</ref> Following tweets<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/The_Red_Nation/status/1193690391372955648?s=20}}</ref> depicting the burning of the [[Wiphala]] by the opposition protestors and its removal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1194000271745179649?s=20}}</ref> from the uniform of security forces<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-bolivian-crisis/article29955152.ece}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldeber.com.bo/156414_tcp-avala-sucesion-constitucional-en-la-presidencia}}</ref>, many indigenous protesters became concerned that Áñez, who has presented racist attitudes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.excelsior.com.mx/global/la-presidenta-interina-de-bolivia-publico-estos-mensajes-racistas/1347981}}</ref> towards the country's indigenous majority<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/49749d5128.html}}</ref>, will return the country to the racial policies and attitudes that preceded Morales's presidency<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/indigenous-bolivians-fear-renewed-racism-morales-removed-191125190736105.html}}</ref>, particularly under the [[Hugo Banzer|Bolivian Military Dictatorship]]. Áñez announced that Morales and many other MAS members would be banned from running for office again<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/15/jeanine-anez-puso-en-duda-la-participacion-del-partido-de-evo-morales-en-las-elecciones-de-bolivia-lo-decidira-el-tribunal/}}</ref>, and that Morales would be tried for treason and sedition should he return to the country. The new government has announced new elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191115-bolivia-s-warring-parties-strike-deal-for-new-elections-to-end-deadly-unrest|title=Bolivia's warring parties strike deal for new elections to end deadly unrest|date=2019-11-15|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref> 
Following the resignations, opposition senator [[Jeanine Áñez]], declared herself president on 12 November, with the majority of the Senate absent in protest, and to deny a constitutional [[quorum]] for the vote.<ref name="El País" /> Bolivia's [[Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal]] then confirmed Áñez's assumption of power amid growing counter protests by Morales's supporters, especially in the rural and traditionally indigenous regions of the country.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/11/16/780118421/8-killed-in-bolivia-as-protesters-call-for-return-of-ousted-president-evo-morale|date=11/15/2019}}</ref> The new government passed a secret decree temporarily granting impunity to the army and police from criminal prosecution out investigation while they "act in the legitimate defense of the state,"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/11/17/america/1574014107_965320.html|Alarm in Bolivia at Impunity for Army Repressing Protests}}</ref> which lead to the detention of journalists labeled as "seditious" and the deaths of 23 protesters and the injuring of over 715.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/19/bolivia-is-falling-into-grips-brutal-right-wing-regime/}}</ref> Following tweets<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/The_Red_Nation/status/1193690391372955648?s=20}}</ref> depicting the burning of the [[Wiphala]] by the opposition protestors and its removal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1194000271745179649?s=20}}</ref> from the uniform of security forces<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-bolivian-crisis/article29955152.ece}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldeber.com.bo/156414_tcp-avala-sucesion-constitucional-en-la-presidencia}}</ref>, many indigenous protesters became concerned that Áñez, who has presented racist attitudes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.excelsior.com.mx/global/la-presidenta-interina-de-bolivia-publico-estos-mensajes-racistas/1347981}}</ref> towards the country's indigenous majority<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.refworld.org/docid/49749d5128.html}}</ref>, will return the country to the racial policies and attitudes that preceded Morales's presidency<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/indigenous-bolivians-fear-renewed-racism-morales-removed-191125190736105.html}}</ref>, particularly under the [[Hugo Banzer|Bolivian Military Dictatorship]]. Áñez announced that Morales and many other MAS members would be banned from running for office again<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2019/11/15/jeanine-anez-puso-en-duda-la-participacion-del-partido-de-evo-morales-en-las-elecciones-de-bolivia-lo-decidira-el-tribunal/}}</ref>, and that Morales would be tried for treason and sedition should he return to the country. The new government has announced new elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191115-bolivia-s-warring-parties-strike-deal-for-new-elections-to-end-deadly-unrest|title=Bolivia's warring parties strike deal for new elections to end deadly unrest|date=2019-11-15|website=France 24|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref> 


Morales has called for the Bolivian people to reject the leadership of Áñez. He and his supporters argue that the event was a [[coup d'état]], as they claim that the military's "suggestion"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50369591|title=Bolivian army chief urges Morales to step down}}</ref> that Morales resign amounts to an implied threat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/02/the-oas-has-to-answer-for-its-role-in-the-bolivian-coup|title=The OAS has to answer for its role in the Bolivian coup}}</ref>. International politicians, scholars and journalists are divided between describing the event as a coup or a popular uprising.<ref name="BC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50370013|title=Bolivian President Evo Morales resigns|publisher=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/10/bolivian-president-evo-morales-resigns-after-election-result-dispute|title=Bolivian president Evo Morales resigns after election result dispute|date=10 November 2019|website=The Guardian|url-status=live|access-date=10 November 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nicaragua-bolivia-idUSKBN1XL06O|title=Nicaraguan government denounces "coup" in Bolivia: statement|date=11 November 2019|agency=Reuters|access-date=11 November 2019}}{{cite news |title=Mexico says Bolivia suffered coup due to military pressure on Morales |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election-mexico-minister/mexico-says-bolivia-suffered-coup-due-to-military-pressure-on-morales-idUSKBN1XL1S5 |agency=Reuters |date=11 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/11/11/evo-morales-resigns-is-bolivia-facing-a-coup-d-etat|title=Evo Morales political asylum: Is Bolivia facing a coup d'etat?|date=12 November 2019|author=Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro|author2=Marta Rodríguez|website=Euronews}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/469951-sanders-says-very-concerned-about-what-appear-to-be-a-coup-in-bolivia|title=Sanders 'very concerned about what appears to be a coup' in Bolivia|author=John Bowden|website=The Hill|date=11 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/6b2c94306089451d9761878c9f7ce2f1|title=AP Explains: Did a coup force Bolivia's Evo Morales out?|last=|first=|date=2019-11-11|website=[[The Associated Press]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=Whether the events Sunday in Bolivia constitute a coup d’état is now the subject of debate in and outside the nation. ... Bolivia’s “coup” is largely a question of semantics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/12/world/americas/bolivia-evo-morales-coup.html|title=Bolivia Crisis Shows the Blurry Line Between Coup and Uprising|last=Fisher|first=Max|date=2019-11-12|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2019-12-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|quote=But the Cold War-era language of coups and revolutions demands that such cases fit into clear narratives. ... Experts on Bolivia and on coups joined forces on Monday to challenge the black-and-white characterizations, urging pundits and social media personalities to see the shades of gray.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/karlazabludovsky/bolivia-coup-rorschach-test-evo-morales|title=Bolivia Is The Internet’s Latest Rorschach Test|last=Zabludovsky|first=Karla|date=14 November 2019|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=And, as so often with the big names of Latin America — where the word "coup" is supercharged ... how you see what has happened to him is often dependent on your own political ideology. On the left, he’s seen as the victim of a putsch; on the right, his downfall is taken as evidence of democracy trumping authoritarianism on the continent.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1748281/experts-are-divided-on-evo-morales-and-bolivias-alleged-coup/|title=The world’s as divided about Bolivia’s alleged coup as Bolivians themselves|last=Haldevang|first=Max de|date=15 November 2019|website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=So…was it a coup? Experts are as divided as everyone else on the question.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/11/evo-morales-resigns-president-bolivia/|title=Why Is Evo Morales Suddenly No Longer President of Bolivia?|last=Johnson|first=Keith|date=|website=[[Foreign Policy]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=It’s not a coup in any sense of the word, and Bolivia and Latin America have experience with actual coups. The army did not take charge of Bolivia. Morales, despite his protestations that police had an arrest warrant for him, is not in custody or even being sought.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/bolivia-reflects-the-deep-polarization-crisis-in-latin-america/|title=Bolivia reflects the deep polarization crisis in Latin America|last=|first=|date=2019-11-14|website=[[Atlantic Council]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=Countries are debating why Evo Morales left power. Did he leave power of his own volition or was it a coup? There are two different responses to that question based on which country is speaking.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/coup-or-no-coup-bolivias-presidential-crisis|title=Coup or not a coup? Bolivia’s Evo Morales flees presidential crisis|last=|first=|date=12 November 2019|website=[[Univision]]|language=spanish|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=The discussion over whether it was a coup falls largely along ideological lines. Left wing supporters of Morales point like to point to a long history of military coups in Latin America, while critics of the former president point to the 14 years he spent in power, in violation of constitutional term limits. ... But political experts say the events hardly resemble a classic coup scenario. ... In a typical coup, the military usually take a more proactive role, taking up arms against the sitting ruler and installing one of their own in the presidential palace, at least temporarily.}}</ref>
Morales has called for the Bolivian people to reject the leadership of Áñez. He and his supporters argue that the event was a [[coup d'état]], as they claim that the military's "suggestion"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50369591|title=Bolivian army chief urges Morales to step down}}</ref> that Morales resign amounts to an implied threat<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/02/the-oas-has-to-answer-for-its-role-in-the-bolivian-coup|title=The OAS has to answer for its role in the Bolivian coup}}</ref>. International politicians, scholars and journalists are divided between describing the event as a coup or a popular uprising.<ref name="BC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50370013|title=Bolivian President Evo Morales resigns|publisher=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/10/bolivian-president-evo-morales-resigns-after-election-result-dispute|title=Bolivian president Evo Morales resigns after election result dispute|date=10 November 2019|website=The Guardian|url-status=live|access-date=10 November 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nicaragua-bolivia-idUSKBN1XL06O|title=Nicaraguan government denounces "coup" in Bolivia: statement|date=11 November 2019|agency=Reuters|access-date=11 November 2019}}{{cite news |title=Mexico says Bolivia suffered coup due to military pressure on Morales |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bolivia-election-mexico-minister/mexico-says-bolivia-suffered-coup-due-to-military-pressure-on-morales-idUSKBN1XL1S5 |agency=Reuters |date=11 November 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/11/11/evo-morales-resigns-is-bolivia-facing-a-coup-d-etat|title=Evo Morales political asylum: Is Bolivia facing a coup d'etat?|date=12 November 2019|author=Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro|author2=Marta Rodríguez|website=Euronews}}{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/469951-sanders-says-very-concerned-about-what-appear-to-be-a-coup-in-bolivia|title=Sanders 'very concerned about what appears to be a coup' in Bolivia|author=John Bowden|website=The Hill|date=11 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/6b2c94306089451d9761878c9f7ce2f1|title=AP Explains: Did a coup force Bolivia's Evo Morales out?|last=|first=|date=2019-11-11|website=[[The Associated Press]]|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=Whether the events Sunday in Bolivia constitute a coup d’état is now the subject of debate in and outside the nation. ... Bolivia’s “coup” is largely a question of semantics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/12/world/americas/bolivia-evo-morales-coup.html|title=Bolivia Crisis Shows the Blurry Line Between Coup and Uprising|last=Fisher|first=Max|date=2019-11-12|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2019-12-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|quote=But the Cold War-era language of coups and revolutions demands that such cases fit into clear narratives. ... Experts on Bolivia and on coups joined forces on Monday to challenge the black-and-white characterizations, urging pundits and social media personalities to see the shades of gray.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/karlazabludovsky/bolivia-coup-rorschach-test-evo-morales|title=Bolivia Is The Internet’s Latest Rorschach Test|last=Zabludovsky|first=Karla|date=14 November 2019|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=And, as so often with the big names of Latin America — where the word "coup" is supercharged ... how you see what has happened to him is often dependent on your own political ideology. On the left, he’s seen as the victim of a putsch; on the right, his downfall is taken as evidence of democracy trumping authoritarianism on the continent.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1748281/experts-are-divided-on-evo-morales-and-bolivias-alleged-coup/|title=The world’s as divided about Bolivia’s alleged coup as Bolivians themselves|last=Haldevang|first=Max de|date=15 November 2019|website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=So…was it a coup? Experts are as divided as everyone else on the question.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/11/11/evo-morales-resigns-president-bolivia/|title=Why Is Evo Morales Suddenly No Longer President of Bolivia?|last=Johnson|first=Keith|date=|website=[[Foreign Policy]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=It’s not a coup in any sense of the word, and Bolivia and Latin America have experience with actual coups. The army did not take charge of Bolivia. Morales, despite his protestations that police had an arrest warrant for him, is not in custody or even being sought.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/bolivia-reflects-the-deep-polarization-crisis-in-latin-america/|title=Bolivia reflects the deep polarization crisis in Latin America|last=|first=|date=2019-11-14|website=[[Atlantic Council]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=Countries are debating why Evo Morales left power. Did he leave power of his own volition or was it a coup? There are two different responses to that question based on which country is speaking.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.univision.com/univision-news/latin-america/coup-or-no-coup-bolivias-presidential-crisis|title=Coup or not a coup? Bolivia’s Evo Morales flees presidential crisis|last=|first=|date=12 November 2019|website=[[Univision]]|language=spanish|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-12-04|quote=The discussion over whether it was a coup falls largely along ideological lines. Left wing supporters of Morales point like to point to a long history of military coups in Latin America, while critics of the former president point to the 14 years he spent in power, in violation of constitutional term limits. ... But political experts say the events hardly resemble a classic coup scenario. ... In a typical coup, the military usually take a more proactive role, taking up arms against the sitting ruler and installing one of their own in the presidential palace, at least temporarily.}}</ref>

Revision as of 02:27, 10 December 2019

2019 Bolivian Coup d'Etat
Part of 2019 Bolivian protests
Jeanine Áñez assuming the presidency (left), Evo Morales speaking in Mexico, where he received political asylum after his resignation (right)
Date10 November 2019
Location
La Paz, Bolivia
MethodsBarricades, demonstrations, hunger strike
Resulted in
Parties

Bolivian government

Lead figures
Casualties and losses
Death: 33 (26 November 2019)[2]
Injured: 715 (17 November 2019)

2019 Bolivian political crisis
Causes
Effects
Events
Elections
flag Bolivia portal

On 10 November 2019, after 19 days of civil protests following the disputed election results of October 2019 and the release of a report from OAS alleging election irregularities, Morales offered a new election overseen by an independent electoral commission overseen by the OAS and other international organizations. Within two hours later, the military and the police of Bolivia "suggested" that president Evo Morales resign. Morales resigned the same day, followed by the remainder of his cabinet and the leaders of his party, Movement for Socialism (MAS), throughout the day, some citing fears for the safety of their families. Foreign Minister of Mexico Marcelo Ebrard offered political asylum to Morales the following day; which Morales accepted.[3]

Following the resignations, opposition senator Jeanine Áñez, declared herself president on 12 November, with the majority of the Senate absent in protest, and to deny a constitutional quorum for the vote.[4] Bolivia's Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal then confirmed Áñez's assumption of power amid growing counter protests by Morales's supporters, especially in the rural and traditionally indigenous regions of the country.[5][6][7] The new government passed a secret decree temporarily granting impunity to the army and police from criminal prosecution out investigation while they "act in the legitimate defense of the state,"[8] which lead to the detention of journalists labeled as "seditious" and the deaths of 23 protesters and the injuring of over 715.[9] Following tweets[10] depicting the burning of the Wiphala by the opposition protestors and its removal[11] from the uniform of security forces[12][13], many indigenous protesters became concerned that Áñez, who has presented racist attitudes[14] towards the country's indigenous majority[15], will return the country to the racial policies and attitudes that preceded Morales's presidency[16], particularly under the Bolivian Military Dictatorship. Áñez announced that Morales and many other MAS members would be banned from running for office again[17], and that Morales would be tried for treason and sedition should he return to the country. The new government has announced new elections.[18] 

Morales has called for the Bolivian people to reject the leadership of Áñez. He and his supporters argue that the event was a coup d'état, as they claim that the military's "suggestion"[19] that Morales resign amounts to an implied threat[20]. International politicians, scholars and journalists are divided between describing the event as a coup or a popular uprising.[1][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

The Bolivian Congress, ruled by the MAS party of Morales, unanimously approved a bill on 23 November 2019 that annulled the results of the October 20 election, allowed for new elections and prevented Evo Morales from participating in the new elections.[28][29][30] The bill was signed into law the next day by president Áñez.[31]

On 4 December 2019, the Organization of American States released its final report related to the October 20 election, showing details of "deliberate" and "malicious" tactics to rig that election in favor of President Evo Morales.[32][33]

Background

2019 Bolivian general election

Main article: 2019 Bolivian general election

On 20 October 2019, the first round of voting for all government positions was held. After the polls closed, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal began to release the preliminary results of the presidential election; at 7:40 pm, when 83.8% of the votes had been counted, the preliminary count stopped. The Tribunal's president, María Eugenia Choque, said that the preliminary count had stopped because the official results had begun to be released. At the time that the preliminary count was stopped, Morales led with 45.3%, and his primary opponent, Carlos Mesa, had 38.2%. Less than a 10-point lead would have resulted in another round of runoff voting.[34] At 9:25 pm, President Morales declared himself the winner, stating that rural areas would guarantee his victory.[35][36]

A man holds up what he describes as a fresh ballot sheet found in the streets of La Paz.[37]

Although uncounted votes in rural areas were expected to go his way, one body observing the election—the Organization of American States (OAS)—stated that even if Morales did win outright, his lead beyond the 10-point threshold would be so negligible as to warrant a runoff anyway. The OAS expressed concern about the day-long gap in results reporting: after 24 hours, the updates resumed, but with a surge for Morales at the first update.[38] An analysis by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) disputed the OAS's findings and criticized what it called a "politicization of the electoral observation process."[39] The co-director of the think-tank, Mark Weisbrot, stated the OAS showed "no evidence – no statistics, numbers, or facts of any kind" to support its claim of electoral manipulation.[40] Before the OAS released their final audit detailing their findings, CEPR concluded that due to Morales' voter base being in more rural regions, the results from peripheral areas received towards the end of the count were more likely to be in his favour.[41]

On 21 October, the Plurinational Electoral Organ reported a still-incomplete count,[42] suggesting that with only 95.3% of verified votes, Morales had too large of a margin above 10 points to overcome, avoiding a second run-off round, and so Morales would remain in power for a fourth term.[43][44] Based on this result, along with reported irregularities and the two-term presidential limit that the Bolivian Supreme Tribunal had nullified, the Bolivian opposition and protestors as well as some foreign governments and international observers called for an audit of the process and results.[45]

Protests

Main article: 2019 Bolivian protests
Anti-Morales protests in La Paz on 23 October 2019

Protests intensified following the electoral councils decision, with electoral offices being burned in multiple regions across Bolivia.[46][47][48] By 24 October, Morales began describing the actions taken against him as a coup.[49] On 25 October, when the results were officially announced with Morales as the winner, several countries in Latin America, as well as the United States and European Union, had called for the second round to go ahead regardless.[50]

The OAS audit of the election began on 31 October and was observed by Spain, Mexico, and Paraguay.[51] The same day, two deaths were announced by the government.[52]

On 6 November, the Bolivian opposition published a 190-page long report containing fraud accusations, including irregularities such as mistaken electoral acts additions, data swiping and electoral acts where the ruling party obtained more votes than registered voters, expecting to send it to international organizations such as the OAS and the United Nations.[53] The third death during the protests occurred on 7 November when a 20-year-old student called Limbert Guzman was killed during clashes.[54]

Events

Authorities abandon Morales

After weeks of repelling protesters at the Casa Grande del Pueblo presidential palace, units of the Police Operations Tactical Unit (UTOP) tasked with defending Morales assembled a meeting on 8 November.[55] UTOP officers ultimately decided at the gathering to abandon their posts and to call for the resignation of Morales.[55] According to Reuters, UTOP turned away from Morales for multiple reasons: complaints of alleged orders to suppress opposition protestors while avoiding Morales loyalists; resentments over perceived preferential treatment given to the military; and the exhaustion of combating protestors.[55]

On 9 November, Morales organized a meeting and ordered the military to put down protesters, with officers present rejecting Morales' orders according to former general Fernando Sánchez.[30] Following this meeting, officers feared of violent military suppression similar to 2003 protests during the Bolivian gas conflict.[30] At this time, all UTOP officers had left their positions, leaving Morales vulnerable to protesters.[55] At a police station near the presidential palace, officers climbed onto the roofs and chanted "The Police with the People".[56] Police nationwide began to retreat from protesters, returning to their stations, while other departments began to mutiny against the Morales government, arguing that they did not want to be an "instrument of any government".[56] Head of the Bolivian Armed Forces, General Williams Kaliman, refused to suppress demonstrations, saying that the military would "never confront the people among whom we live" and that the events unfolding were "a political problem and it should be resolved within that realm".[56]

After police left their posts at the presidential palace, Morales never returned and was forced into hiding in an improvised office protected by a small group of his guard.[30] He ultimately held a press conference at the Bolivian Air Force's presidential hangar in El Alto International Airport later in the day, leading some to suspect that Morales had already lost control of the government.[57] Franklin Pareja, a professor of the Higher University of San Andrés, said that because of the abandonment police, the Morales government "lost its shield" and that "it was totally vulnerable and couldn’t go on".[55]

According to members of the Bolivian military, authorities had questioned Morales' actions for some time.[30] Morales had performed multiple actions that had offended officers within the armed forces, including glorifying Che Guevara after his guerrillas killed 59 Bolivian troops during their insurgency in the 1960s and forcing officers to attend the Anti-Imperialist Military Academy that was led by a convicted former rebel.[30] According to General Tomás Peña y Lillo, who was chief of the Bolivian armed forces until 2010, officers within the military were traditionally conservative and had refused plans proposed by Morales to be guided by Cuban military and intelligence agents, damaging Morales' hold of the military.[30] Roberto Ponce, former chief of staff of the Bolivian military, also explained that Morales spent little on the country's armed forces as he feared that he would be overthrown, which frustrated military officers.[30]

Protesters overrun La Paz

By the night of 9 November, violence escalated throughout Bolivia.[58] The Morales government called on supporters to gather in the capital city of La Paz "defend" him, with reports of pro-Morales groups attacking buses of opposition protesters.[58] However, anti-Morales protesters had already overrun the streets of La Paz, with some groups of police joining in protests against Morales.[58] Demonstrators began to overrun government offices, with protesters flooding the stations of Bolivia TV and Radio Patria Nueva, accusing them of serving Morales.[58] Relatives of Morales had their homes attacked by protesters, with his older sister's home in Oruro being burned while other regional governors had their homes torched as well.[58] The next day, two miners from Potosí were shot and injured, reportedly by snipers, when cooperative miners where marching to join protests in La Paz.[59]

OAS audit released

On 10 November, the OAS published the report of the audit conducted during the elections. The OAS report included allegations of irregularities, including failures in the chain of custody for ballots, alteration and forgery of electoral material, redirection of data to unauthorized servers and data manipulation.[60] The OAS added that it was statistically unlikely that Morales had secured the 10-percentage-point margin of victory needed to win outright, saying that election should be annulled after it had found "clear manipulations" of the voting system, and that "The manipulations to the computer systems are of such magnitude that they must be deeply investigated by the Bolivian State to get to the bottom of and assign responsibility in this serious case."[1][61]

Calls for Morales to resign

After the release of the 10 November OAS audit, multiple Bolivian entities called on Morales to resign. Morales had initially relied on support from civil organizations to protect him from protests instead of the military since he enjoyed popular support.[30] However, the two main civil groups of Bolivia had begun aligning themselves with the opposition to Morales; the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB), Bolivia's largest trade union and a traditionally pro-Morales entity, and the Single Trade Union Confederation of Workers (CSUTCB), an indigenous workers union.[62][63][64]

CSUTCB had already met with opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho, announcing an alliance[63] and in the morning of 10 November, the leader of COB suggested Morales resign if it would help solve the violence, and called for new elections.[63] Indigenous and Aymara leader Nelson Condori, the director of CSUTCB, intensified his condemnation of Morales later in the day while at an event beside Camacho, stating, "Evo, we have cried, you have made our lives bitter, you have lied to us. ... When have you forgotten the slogan of our ancestors, do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy?"[65] Condori also called for a "purge" of the Bolivian government, demanding that Morales and his governmental allies be jailed for electoral fraud.[65]

After the COB and other civil groups formerly supportive of Morales called on him to resign, Morales held a second press conference at the presidential hangar, changing his position on the October election results and announced that new elections would be held.[66][67] Morales released a statement, saying "As President, my main mission is to preserve peace, social justice and economic stability. Listening to the Bolivian Workers' Center (COB), the Pact of Unity and other social sectors, I have decided first to renew all the members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal".[67]

Since popular social groups had abandoned Morales, the military was the only group protecting him from protesters.[30] Officers who feared punishment if they deployed troops against civilians pressured General Williams Kaliman, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Bolivia and Morales loyalist, to turn away from Morales.[30] By 11:30 am, announced that the military had suggested[68] Morales to resign to "help restore peace and stability" after weeks of protests over the vote, adding that the military was calling on the Bolivian people to refrain from violence and disorder.[61] The military also said it would conduct operations to "neutralise" any armed groups that attacked the protesters.[1][69] The military press release invoked[70] Article 20, paragraph b, of Law No. 1405[71] which states:

Article 20. The attribution and responsibilities of the military high command are: [...] b. To analyze inner and foreign troubled situations to suggest to whom it may concern the appropriate solutions.

Morales resigns

After Kaliman's statement, Morales took the presidential plane from El Alto International Airport to an undisclosed location, announcing his immediate resignation on television, stating that he was resigning to "protect the families" of Movement for Socialism members.[72] He concluded by stating that he believed Carlos Mesa had "achieved his objective", and asked protesters to "stop burning down the houses of [his] brothers and sisters".[73][74][75] Vice President Álvaro García Linera also resigned after consulting with Morales.[1]

Shortly thereafter, it was reported that Morales was on a plane to Argentina;[76] however, the Argentine foreign minister, Jorge Faurie, said that Argentina would not grant him asylum.[77] Commander Yuri Calderón assured that there was no warrant for Morales' arrest, though armed individuals had entered his home.[78]

Later in the day, Adriana Salvatierra, the President of the Senate, Victor Borda, the leader of the Chamber, and Rubén Medinaceli, First Vice President of the Senate, also all resigned.[79] Mexico's foreign minister declared that twenty members of Bolivia's executive and legislative branches were at the official Mexican residence in the capital seeking asylum following the resignation.[80] Following the resignation of Morales and his allied successors, protesters called for a board to be convened to oversee the government and new elections, though Mesa disagreed with the proposal, stating protesters should not "violate the Constitution so as not to give Evo Morales an excuse that he was the victim of a coup d'etat" and that the Legislative Assembly should determine the constitutional successor.[81]

Later on 10 November, BBC Mundo published an article suggesting that five main reasons combined to force Morales to resign: the audit results, the opposition from the military and police, the ongoing protests, the growing radicalization of the political opposition, and the public distaste towards his continued re-elections.[82]

Arrests of electoral commission

At 8:20 pm, the Associated Press reported that Bolivian police had arrested 38 members of the Plurinational Electoral Organ, including the former president, Maria Eugenia Choque, and vice president. According to a police commander, Choque was apprehended whilst disguised as a man.[78] More members were arrested on Monday, with arrest warrants for all electoral officials.[83]

Succession of presidency

Assumption of presidency by Jeanine Áñez

Jeanine Áñez, pictured here in 2016, was the next in the line of succession and became interim president

On the evening of 10 November, Jeanine Áñez, the second vice president of the Senate and the highest-ranking official remaining in the line of succession after the resignations, announced she would be assuming the presidency on a temporary basis from 11 November onward, with the responsibility of calling new elections. She stated that she would assume the office once the Senate had formally recognized the previous day's resignations. Upon inauguration, Áñez would officially become the President of Bolivia.[84][85]

The Bolivian Constitution does not make specific provisions for the process of a Senator assuming the presidency; article 169 says that "In case of impediment or definitive absence of the president of the State, he will be replaced in office by the Vice President and, in his absence, by the President of the Senate, and in the absence of this by the President of the Chamber of Deputies. In the latter case, new elections will be called within a maximum period of ninety days." It also establishes the line of succession.[86]

The following day, Áñez arrived at La Paz-El Alto airport and was taken in a military helicopter to a nearby Air Force base; from here she traveled in convoy to the Senate.[87]

On 12 November 2019, in a brief legislative session without quorum, due to the ruling party's boycott,[4] Áñez declared herself as acting president of Bolivia while holding a large bible, stating that "the bible has returned to the government palace".[88] Her assumption of the presidency was based on a ruling by the country's constitutional court, as she was the highest-ranking politician in the line of succession after the resignations.[89][90][91][92][93] Áñez obtained the favourable vote of the opposition parties, a third part of the parliament, while the Movement for Socialism ruling party did not participate in the voting, rejecting the succession.[4]

Añez's assumption of the presidential office was supported by Bolivia's Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal, which interpreted citing articles referring to the presidential succession of the 2001 Constitutional Declaration, that the next person in the succession line assumes the presidency ipso facto despite not having the required quorum, stating that "the functioning of the executive should not be suspended".[94][5][6][95] Other legal experts argued that at least some of the steps for Áñez to take office required congressional approval.[95]

Anti-Áñez protests

See also: 2019 Bolivian protests
A demonstration in support of Morales in El Alto on 11 November 2019

Reactions to the transfer of power and to Ms Áñez's assumption of the presidency have been mixed, being met with both celebrations and protests.[96] Demonstrators celebrating the removal of the government chanted "yes we can" and set off fireworks.[97] Hundreds of supporters of Morales made their way toward the center of La Paz from the mountains surrounding the city, some of them armed with sticks, chanting "here we go, civil war". The police said the armed group had vandalized police offices, causing panic in some neighborhoods where people blocked their doors with furniture to protect stores and houses. After receiving requests for help from the national police and politicians, the armed forces announced that night they would mobilize to defend gas, water and electricity services around the capital. According to the national police, army and police units would also begin joint patrols around the city.[98]

On November 13, a dozen MAS senators were blocked by police from entering the National Assembly building during the session.[99][100][101]

Capital shut down

See also: 2019 Shortages in Bolivia

For unknown reasons, the drinking water supplies to parts of both La Paz and El Alto, the two largest cities in Bolivia, were cut off.[102] La Paz's legislature also closed down the capital's infrastructure, schools, and workplaces, for public safety.[83] Supporters of Morales also built barricades on roads that lead to the airport.[83]

Morales supporters also built barricades around the Senkata refinery in El Alto, which fed the capital district, cutting power and fuel to these cities. Pro-Morales demonstrators also stormed the premises and set fire to vehicles within the compound.[103] The Bolivian military re-took the site on 19 November using armored vehicles and helicopters,[104] killing three protesters and injuring 22 in the process.[105] However, with blockades from various protests surrounding the city, goods were not able to enter, creating shortages.[104]

Government response to protests

In the face of protests against the interim government, Áñez called for police to restore order and, on 14 November, issued a decree that would exempt the military from any type of criminal responsibility when maintaining order, when acting in a "legitimate defense or state of necessity."[106][107][108][109] On 15 November, security forces fired upon coca farmers protesting against the government in Cochabamba. The clash left nine dead and dozens injured.[108]

Human rights concerns

José Miguel Vivanco, head of Human Rights Watch in the Americas, said that the decree "sends a very dangerous message to the military that they have carte blanche to commit abuses".[110] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemned Añez's government for issuing the decree.[111]

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet issued a statement, saying that "while earlier deaths mostly resulted from clashes between rival protestors", the latest incidents appear to be due to the "disproportionate use of force by the army and police", stating that "in a situation like this, repressive actions by the authorities will simply stoke that anger even further and are likely to jeopardise any possible avenue for dialogue." Bachelet also expressed concern that "widespread arrests and detentions" are adding to the tensions; according to her office, more than 600 people had been detained since 21 October, many in the past few days. Furthermore, Bachelet also declared being concerned that the situation could "spin out of control if the authorities do not handle it sensitively and in accordance with international norms and standards governing the use of force, and with full respect for human rights", stating that it couldn't be solved through "force and repression".[112] The decree was subsequently repealed by Áñez.[113]

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has expressed concerns over human rights violations that occurred after the 2019 Bolivian general election.[112][114][110][2] Paulo Abrão, who heads the IACHR, declared that due to the "massive" number of human rights violations amid post-election violence, the country may need outside help to investigate the situation and recommended Bolivia coordinate with an international panel of experts to ensure findings are seen as credible.[2] On 5th Dec 2019, Añez approved an act to provide compensation to the families of those killed and injured during the conflict. [115]

Aftermath

Interim government activities

The Áñez administration appointed a new cabinet on 13 November 2019, none of whose members were indigenous.[116][117] After an outcry, she appointed one indigenous person as minister of culture.[117] Among the senior ministers were prominent Bolivian businesspeople.[116] The Guardian described the cabinet as showing "no signs that [Áñez] intended to reach across the country's deep political and ethnic divide".[116] Shortly after taking power, Áñez appointed a new military high command.[99] The new commander of the armed forces, General Carlos Orellana Centellas, pledged to take orders from Áñez, saying, "we will guarantee the security of the constitutional government".[99]

New elections

Áñez stated on 15 November that in order to restore faith in the electoral process, a vote would first be held to elect a new Electoral Commission, before having a new vote for president.[118]

On 20 November the interim government presented a bill that aimed to forge a path to new elections. The two chambers congress were expected to debate the bill which would annul the October 20 election and appoint a new electoral board within 15 days of its passage, paving the way for a new vote.[119] The bill, drafted jointly by MAS and anti-Morales legislators, was approved on November 23; it also prohibited Morales from participating in the fresh election.[120] In exchange, Áñez's government agreed to withdraw the armed forces from all protest areas (although some servicemen were still permitted to stay at some state companies to "prevent vandalism), revoke her decree which granted the army immunity from criminal prosecution, release arrested protesters, protect lawmakers and social leaders from attacks and provide compensation for the families of those killed during the crisis. She approved the bill shortly thereafter.[121]

Domestic policy

The government renamed the state newspaper, known as Cambio under president Morales, as Bolivia on 17 November.[122] On 25 November, the Áñez met with civil groups Bolivian Workers' Center, the country's largest union, and the Pact of Unity, a prominent indigenous grassroots group, to sign agreements on how to pacify Bolivia following previous violent events.[123]

The New York Times described Áñez as "reaching beyond her caretaker mandate of organizing national elections by January".[108] Javier Corrales, a Latin American politics professor at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said "without a popular mandate, [the government] are pushing forward some of the most objectionable aspects of their agenda". Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor of international relations at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in São Paulo, said that "the only thing this government was supposed to do was calm things down and call elections, and that’s just about the only thing it has not done".[110]

Foreign policy

Karen Longaric, appointed as foreign minister by Jeanine Áñez, announced the formal departure from the country of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and breaking all diplomatic relations with Venezuela's Maduro government,[124][125] recognizing Juan Guaidó as acting president of Venezuela in the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis.[126] Longaric also announced that the interim government was considering leaving the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).[124]

Counteractions

On 15 November, Longaric expelled 725 Cuban citizens, mostly medical doctors, after she raised concerns about their alleged involvement in protests.[124][127] The government announced it arrested nine Venezuelans in the border city of Guayaramerín (near Brazil) with boots and insignias of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB), identification cards of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and microchips containing photos of themselves with other people armed with guns. After the arrest and the discovery of the microchips, the interim government suspected the men had participated "violent acts" in the country, who transferred to the Bolivian Special Crime Fighting Forces to conduct a preliminary investigation.[128]

Arturo Murillo, Áñez's new interior minister, vowed to "hunt down" his predecessor Juan Ramón Quintana, a prominent Morales ally, stoking fears of a vendetta against members of the previous administration.[116] He later announced he would start arresting certain members of the previous government who he accused of "subversion".[129] Roxana Lizárraga, Áñez's communication minister, stated that she had a list of journalists who were "involved in sedition" and threatened them with prosecution.[108]

On 22 November, after an audio recording, allegedly of Morales, leaked in which Morales supporters were directed to block main roads to La Paz in order to starve out the city, the interim government opened an investigation into Morales for "terrorism and sedition".[130] Hours later, the vice-president of MAS-IPSP was arrested for allegedly using a car of the ministry of the President; in the car, according to Télam, police discovered computers and biometric devices that belonged to the electoral commission.[131][132]

Reactions

Main article: Reactions to the 2019 Bolivian political crisis

See also

References

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