Bolivia's Morales: Defying Backlash, A Leftist Triumph

Bolivia's first Indigenous president, Evo Morales, was forced to resign in 2019 following a disputed election and a wave of civil protests. Morales, a leftist leader, was swept into power in the early 2000s by a pink tide of leftist governments that took over Latin America. However, after the commodities boom that brought these governments to power, widespread voter dissatisfaction set in, and most of the region swung to the right. Morales is an ideological brother-in-arms to Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, but while Maduro continues to preside over an economic and humanitarian disaster, Morales has survived the regional backlash.

Evo Morales' resignation

Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, resigned on 10 November 2019, after nearly 14 years in power. Morales, a left-wing union leader and former coca farmer, had been accused of manipulating the results of the 20 October 2019 national elections.

Morales claimed victory in the election, stating that he had won a fourth term outright. However, preliminary results indicated that Morales had not secured the 10% lead required to avoid a second-round runoff with his right-wing rival, Carlos Mesa. After a 24-hour suspension of the vote count, the results showed Morales with just enough of a lead to avoid a runoff. The opposition cried foul play, and protests erupted across the country.

The protests turned violent, with at least three people killed and several hundred injured. There were also reports of attacks on government officials' homes. As the protests escalated, Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. However, on 10 November, the head of Bolivia's armed forces, Williams Kaliman, called for Morales' resignation to restore peace and stability in the country.

Morales initially denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be the victim of a "civic coup" organized by right-wing political forces and backed by the armed forces. However, he ultimately resigned, stating that he wanted to prevent further bloodshed. Morales' resignation left a power vacuum in Bolivia, with the vice-president and other top officials also stepping down.

The interim presidency of Jeanine Áñez

After the resignation of Evo Morales and other officials in the line of succession, Jeanine Áñez, the second vice president of the Senate, declared herself next in line to assume the presidency. On 12 November 2019, she installed an extraordinary session of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly that lacked quorum due to the absence of members of Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP), who demanded security guarantees before attending. In a short session, Áñez declared herself president of the Senate, then used that position to assume constitutional succession to the presidency of the country, endorsed by the Supreme Court of Justice.

Áñez's government launched numerous criminal investigations into former MAS officials, for which she was accused of political persecution and retributive justice. She terminated Bolivia's close links with the governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and warmed relations with the United States. She also issued a decree removing criminal liability for military and police in dealing with protesters, which was repealed amid widespread condemnation following the Senkata and Sacaba massacres.

After delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing protests, new elections were held in October 2020. Despite initially pledging not to, Áñez launched her own presidential campaign, contributing to criticism that she was not a neutral actor in the transition. She withdrew her candidacy a month before the election amid low poll numbers and fear of splitting the opposition vote against MAS candidate Luis Arce, who won the election.

In June 2022, Áñez was found guilty of breach of duties and resolutions contrary to the Constitution and sentenced to ten years in prison.

The role of the military

Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, enjoyed strong support from the military during his first term in office. Morales had served in the Bolivian Army from 1977 to 1978, and during his presidency, he emphasised nationalism, anti-imperialism, and anti-neoliberalism.

However, Morales' relationship with the military became strained during his third term, when he glorified Che Guevara, who had previously led an insurgency that killed 59 Bolivian troops. Morales also forced officers to attend the Anti-Imperialist Military Academy, which was led by a former rebel. This, along with Morales' limited spending on the armed forces, frustrated military officers.

In 2019, Morales ran for a fourth term as president, despite a referendum in 2016 that restricted presidents to two terms. This decision led to civil protests and allegations of election fraud. The military and police recommended that Morales resign, and he ultimately agreed, fleeing to Mexico.

The pink tide of leftist governments

In the 2000s, a "pink tide" of leftist governments swept across Latin America, riding the long commodities boom. One of the most notable leaders of this wave was Hugo Chavez, who was succeeded by Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela in 2013. However, the tide began to turn, and in many countries where free elections were held, there was a swing to the right.

One exception to this shift was Bolivia, where Evo Morales, an ideological brother-in-arms to Maduro, survived the regional backlash. Morales was the first indigenous president of Bolivia, serving from 2006 to 2019. He was a trade unionist and former cocalero activist who led the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party. Morales' administration worked towards the implementation of left-wing policies, with a focus on legal protections and socioeconomic conditions for Bolivia's previously marginalized indigenous population. He also sought to combat the political influence of the United States and resource-extracting multinational corporations.

Morales' government oversaw strong economic growth, poverty reduction, and increased investment in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. He increased taxation on the hydrocarbon industry to fund social spending and emphasized projects to tackle illiteracy, poverty, and racial and gender discrimination. Morales' policies were popular among Bolivia's poor and indigenous communities, who felt marginalized by previous governments.

However, critics pointed to democratic backsliding during his tenure and argued that his policies sometimes failed to reflect his environmentalist and indigenous rights rhetoric. There were also concerns about corruption and allegations of Morales facilitating a "narco-state" due to his links with the coca farming industry.

In 2019, Morales was forced to resign amid civil protests and allegations of electoral fraud. He initially fled to Mexico, and then moved to Argentina, where he was granted political asylum. Despite this, Morales remains an influential figure, and his Movement for Socialism party continues to be a force in Bolivian politics.

Morales' legacy

Evo Morales is regarded as the first indigenous president of Bolivia. Morales' legacy is that of a leader who improved the lives of the poor and marginalized, offering stability to a country known for its instability. Morales' supporters laud him as a champion of indigenous rights, anti-imperialism, and environmentalism.

Morales' administration worked towards the implementation of left-wing policies, focusing on the legal protections and socioeconomic conditions of Bolivia's previously marginalized indigenous population. Morales' government also opposed the political influence of the United States and resource-extracting multinational corporations.

Morales' government oversaw significant economic growth and poverty reduction, as well as increased investment in schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. During his presidency, Bolivia experienced unprecedented economic strength, resulting in an increase in the value of its currency.

However, critics point to democratic backsliding during Morales' tenure, arguing that his policies sometimes failed to reflect his environmentalist and indigenous rights rhetoric, and that his defense of coca contributed to illegal cocaine production.

Morales' presidency ended in his resignation amid allegations of election fraud and subsequent violent protests. Morales fled to Mexico, where he was granted asylum.

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