Bolivia's Political Turmoil: What's Happening And Why?

Bolivia has been in a state of political turmoil since 2019, when accusations of election fraud during the presidential election led to the resignation of longtime President Evo Morales. This event caused many Bolivians, including supporters of Morales' party, the left-wing Movement for Socialism (MAS), to demand more transparency from both government institutions and political parties. As MAS has returned to power with the election of President Luis Arce in 2020, members and supporters of the party have demonstrated to call for more open political processes. The political situation in Bolivia is further complicated by an unprecedented economic crisis amplified by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as ongoing human rights violations, government corruption, and a lack of independence in the judicial system.

Political violence targeting women

Bolivia has been in a state of political turmoil since 2019, with accusations of election fraud during the presidential election that year leading to the resignation of longtime President Evo Morales. Since 1997, the representation of Bolivian women in political positions has significantly increased. However, this rise in female representation has led to a simultaneous increase in reports of political violence and harassment against female politicians.

In May 2018, Mary de la Cruz, a councilwoman for a town near La Paz, stated that she had been attacked physically and verbally by the town's mayor, Damaso Ninaja. De la Cruz was punched in the face and fell to the ground, but the Bolivian authorities did nothing to punish Ninaja. This incident is just one example of the violence and harassment that female politicians in Bolivia often face.

In 2012, the Bolivian government passed Law 243, which criminalizes violence against women in politics. This law was the first of its kind and remains the only law that specifically targets violence against women in politics. Despite this legislation, violence against women in politics persists in Bolivia.

According to a survey conducted by the Association of Female Mayors and Councilwomen of Bolivia, 59% of councilwomen polled had suffered some type of violence or political harassment, and 39% did not complete their term due to the severity of the threats and hostility they received. This issue is not unique to Bolivia, as Latin America has a history of violence against women in politics, with 32.4% women in parliament today, higher than the global average of 25%.

The increase in the representation of women in politics in Bolivia has been met with resistance from male politicians, and the country continues to struggle with a culture of harassment and violence against female politicians. Efforts to address this issue include the implementation of Law 243 and the work of organizations such as the Association of Councilors of Bolivia (ACOBOL), which have sought to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of female politicians. However, the enforcement of laws and the effectiveness of these efforts have been limited due to a slow justice system and a lack of political will to address the issue comprehensively.

Overall, political violence targeting women in Bolivia remains a significant issue, and further efforts are needed to address the underlying cultural and political dynamics that contribute to this problem.

Human rights violations

Bolivia has been in a state of political turmoil since 2019, when accusations of election fraud during the presidential election led to the resignation of President Evo Morales. This event sparked widespread demonstrations, and the country entered a state of political crisis.

Violations of Freedom of Expression

The Morales administration periodically lashed out at journalists, accusing them of publishing lies and politically motivated distortions. During the post-electoral violent protests in 2019, several news outlets and journalists were attacked or threatened, and at least four outlets had to temporarily cease broadcasting.

In 2021, the government accused media outlets of "lying" and serving foreign interests, singling out several newspapers for their criticism of the administration. The National Press Association, which represents the country's main print media, rejected the accusations and defended freedom of the press. They documented 87 instances of physical attacks against journalists in 2019, most of them by demonstrators, and 14 attacks against media premises.

Violations of Freedom of Assembly

The constitution of Bolivia provides for the freedom of peaceful assembly, and most demonstrations were peaceful. However, government opposition groups accused the government of restricting protesters' freedom of assembly during the general labor strike in Santa Cruz by instigating, condoning, and participating in violence and harassment against protesters. Civil society representatives cited high-level officials' repeated characterisation of the strike as a "coup attempt", with government supporters heeding these statements and encircling Santa Cruz with blockades.

Right to a Fair Trial and Detainee Rights

There are concerns over the judiciary's lack of independence from the government. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed particular concern about this issue, noting that authorities failed to protect human rights defenders.

In 2022, there were credible reports of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government officials. The constitution prohibits all forms of torture, but there were reports that government officials employed them. The penal code carries only minimum penalties for torture, and no public official had ever been found guilty.

Prison and Detention Centre Conditions

Prisons in Bolivia were overcrowded and lacked adequate medical services, resulting in harsh and life-threatening conditions. Rehabilitation programs for prisoners were scarce. Violence was pervasive due to inadequate internal security, and abuses included systematic intimidation, rape, psychological mistreatment, extortion, torture, sex trafficking, and threats of death.

Arbitrary Arrest or Detention

Although the law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, the government did not always respect this. There were reports of political prisoners, and international human rights groups noted several potentially politically motivated cases initiated by the government that resulted in arbitrary arrest.

Denial of Fair Public Trial

While the law provides for an independent judiciary, the judiciary remained overburdened and vulnerable to undue influence by the executive and legislative branches. Authorities generally respected court orders, but on several occasions, they pressured judges to change verdicts. Judges and prosecutors sometimes practised self-censorship to avoid becoming targets of verbal and legal harassment by the government.

Discrimination and Societal Abuses

The law provides for the same legal status and rights for women as for men, but women generally did not enjoy a social status equal to that of men. Women participating in politics faced violence and harassment, and Indigenous communities faced obstacles to exercising their right to free, prior, and informed consent to measures that may affect them.

Police impunity

The National Police, under the Ministry of Government, are primarily responsible for law enforcement and maintaining order in Bolivia. However, in cases of critical situations, the Armed Forces, which report to the Ministry of Defense, may be called upon to assist. While civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces, there have been reports of human rights abuses and violations committed by security forces personnel.

Amnesty International has documented human rights violations during the post-election crisis in Bolivia, including the repression of demonstrations and the excessive use of force by the National Police and the Armed Forces. At least 35 people have died and 833 have been injured in the context of protests since the 2019 elections. The organization urges presidential candidates to adopt measures for independent, impartial, and urgent investigations to prevent continuing impunity.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) have also reported on human rights violations and abuses committed by security forces in Bolivia. The GIEI documented the deaths of 37 people in the context of protests over the contested October 2019 elections. It concluded that security forces executed 20 pro-Morales protesters and injured more than 170 people in massacres. The report also provided evidence of illegal detentions, sexual violence, and systematic torture by police forces.

The Bolivian government has taken some steps to address these issues. In November 2020, President Luis Arce established a commission of experts to propose reforms to the justice system. Additionally, in response to the GIEI report, the Arce administration revoked the February 2021 amnesty decree and signed an agreement with UN agencies to reform the justice system. However, police impunity remains a significant problem, and further efforts are needed to ensure accountability and uphold human rights.

Political interference in the justice system

Bolivia has been plagued by political interference in its justice system for years. The problem has persisted through different governments, including that of Jeanine Áñez (November 2019-2020) and the current administration of Luis Arce (November 2020 to date).

Political Interference under Áñez

The Áñez government pursued baseless charges against political opponents. Her administration publicly pressured prosecutors and judges to act in its interests, leading to criminal investigations of over 150 people linked to the previous Morales government and his supporters for sedition, terrorism, and membership in a criminal organization. Many of these cases appeared to be politically motivated.

Political Interference under Arce

The Arce government has supported unsubstantiated and excessive charges of terrorism and genocide against former President Áñez. In February 2021, it also issued an amnesty for crimes related to the country's 2019 political crisis, which appeared designed to favour its supporters. However, in response to a report by international experts in August 2021, President Arce revoked the amnesty and promised to reform the justice system.

Judicial Independence

Judicial independence in Bolivia has been weakened over the years. Under the 2009 Constitution, voters elect high court judges from lists created by the Plurinational Assembly. During his time in office, former President Evo Morales packed these lists with supporters of his party, the Movement toward Socialism (MAS). As a result, about 80% of judges and prosecutors remain "temporary," creating a risk of them issuing decisions to please the authorities.

Human Rights Violations

International experts documented serious human rights violations during the Áñez interim government, including two brutal massacres by security forces and acts of violence instigated under the Morales government. They exposed failures by the Attorney General's Office to conduct adequate investigations and ensure accountability.

Economic crisis

Bolivia has been in a state of political turmoil since 2019, when accusations of election fraud during the presidential election led to the resignation of President Evo Morales. This event led to increased demonstrations over government abuses of power, with supporters of Morales' party, the left-wing Movement for Socialism (MAS), demanding more transparency from both government institutions and political parties.

The political unrest has been aggravated by an unprecedented economic crisis, amplified by the coronavirus pandemic. The Bolivian economy is strained by high deficits, low reserves, and overdependence on primary commodity exports. The country's main export, hydrocarbons output, is falling due to both a depletion of existing reserves and reduced purchases from its main buyers, Brazil and Argentina.

The Bolivian economy is particularly vulnerable to external shocks, and resilience-building is necessary. The overvalued exchange rate and the need to adjust domestic prices of heavily subsidized fuels are significant challenges. Additionally, there is a lack of diversification in exports and production, with exports concentrated in hydrocarbons, metals, and grains. The spike in income during Morales' administration was not invested in institutional strengthening but instead impaired crucial institutions like checks and balances, rule of law, and the independence of the central bank.

The current economic crisis in Bolivia has deep roots and will require decisive action and strong private sector response to achieve stability and long-term development.

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