Bolivia's Political Spectrum: Exploring The Country's Views And Values

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country's politics take place within a presidential framework, where the president is the head of state and government and head of a multi-party system. The Movement for Socialism (MAS) is a left-wing, socialist political party that has governed the country since 2006. MAS is committed to equality, indigenous rights, agrarian land reform, constitutional reform, and nationalization of key industries. Bolivia's current president, Luis Arce, was elected in 2020 and is a member of MAS. However, the country has experienced political turmoil since 2019, with accusations of election fraud and the resignation of former president Evo Morales.

Bolivia's government structure

Bolivia is a unitary republic with a representative democratic government. The country is divided into nine departments, 112 provinces, 327 municipalities, and 1,384 cantons. The government is structured as follows:

Executive Branch

The President of Bolivia is the head of state, head of government, and head of a diverse multi-party system. The President is directly elected to a five-year term by popular vote. Executive power is exercised by the government.

Legislative Branch

Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, known as the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. The lower chamber, the Chamber of Deputies, consists of 130 members directly elected for five-year terms. The upper chamber, the Chamber of Senators, consists of 36 members directly elected for five-year terms.

Judicial Branch

The judiciary in Bolivia is made up of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Judiciary Council, the Agrarian and Environmental Court, and various district and lower courts. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative branches.

Municipal Government

Municipal governments in Bolivia are headed by a municipal council and a mayor. Councilpersons are elected by universal, direct, and secret suffrage. Mayors are chosen by an absolute majority of valid votes.

Political Parties

Bolivia's current governing party is the Movement for Socialism (MAS), a left-wing, socialist political party. MAS is led by Evo Morales, who served as President of Bolivia from 2006 until his resignation in 2019. Other political parties in Bolivia include right-of-center parties such as PODEMOS and Plan Progreso para Bolivia – Convergencia Nacional, as well as various smaller parties across the political spectrum.

Political parties

Bolivia's political system is a presidential representative democratic republic, with the president serving as the head of state and government and head of a diverse multi-party system. The country's current constitution, which was adopted via referendum in 2009, provides for a unitary secular state.

The governing party in Bolivia is the Movement for Socialism (MAS), a left-wing, socialist political party led by Evo Morales. MAS has governed the country since 2006, following a majority victory in the December 2005 elections. The party advocates for equality, indigenous rights, agrarian land reform, constitutional reform, and nationalization of key industries with a focus on social spending. MAS enjoys nearly unanimous support among the poor, rural, and indigenous populations.

The right-of-center opposition in Bolivia includes a variety of political parties. During the 2005-2009 political cycle, the largest opposition party was PODEMOS, a successor to the Nationalist Democratic Action. In the 2009 elections, several parties and politicians united to form Plan Progreso para Bolivia – Convergencia Nacional, whose presidential candidate, Manfred Reyes Villa, came in second.

Historically, three political parties dominated from 1982 to 2005: The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, which carried out the 1952 Revolution; the Revolutionary Left Movement; and the Nationalist Democratic Action, founded in 1982 by former dictator and later elected President Hugo Banzer. Despite their revolutionary names, these parties generally pursued centrist economic policies.

Other political parties in Bolivia include the Bolivian Socialist Falange (FSB), Civic Solidarity Union (UCS), Free Bolivia Movement (MBL), Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard (VIMA), Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), Movement Without Fear (MSM), Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN), and the Socialist Party (PS).

Bolivia's political landscape is highly polarized, with MAS on one side and the fragmented opposition on the other. This polarization intensified during the political crisis of October and November 2019, which led to the resignation of longtime President Evo Morales amid accusations of election fraud. The country continues to face political turmoil, with recent protests calling for more transparent and open political processes.

Recent elections

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. The Movement for Socialism (MAS) returned to power in 2020 with the election of President Luis Arce, who won with 55% of the vote. However, the country remains deeply divided, with supporters of MAS and Morales facing off against supporters of Arce and the current government in the streets.

The 2019 election and its aftermath

In October 2019, Morales—who had been in power since 2006—was accused of election fraud by the opposition. This led to widespread demonstrations and ultimately, Morales' resignation and flight from the country. Jeanine Añez, the second vice president of Bolivia's Senate, was appointed as interim president. However, her rise to power was also met with protests, with demonstrators claiming that her right-wing government was persecuting political opponents.

The 2020 election

The coronavirus pandemic and its economic and health impacts complicated the interim government's plans to hold elections. The election was postponed three times before finally taking place on October 18, 2020. Arce, the former economics and finance minister, won with 55% of the vote. His victory was met with dissatisfaction in several departments, including the three most populous: Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and La Paz. Citizens in these departments demanded an audit of the election process, claiming they would not accept the results without one. However, the audit was not approved by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, and Arce's victory was ultimately confirmed.

The 2021 municipal elections and ongoing tensions

Municipal elections were held in March 2021, with citizens choosing representatives for regions, departments, and municipalities. Morales, who had returned to Bolivia in November 2020 after MAS regained power, reasserted influence over the party by leading the selection of candidates. However, his choices were rejected by many MAS supporters, who claimed that the process was biased in favor of Morales' preferences. This division within MAS was evident in several cities, including Shinahota, Betanzos, Colcapirhua, and El Alto, where the selected candidates were rejected by supporters.

Tensions in the country increased further with the arrest of former interim President Añez in March 2021. She was accused of being part of a coup to remove Morales from power in 2019. Protests and counter-protests between supporters of Morales and Arce have continued, with fears of further unrest in the lead-up to the 2025 presidential election.

The judiciary

Bolivia's judiciary system has been plagued by political interference for years. The 2009 constitution, enacted under Evo Morales, allowed voters to elect high court judges from lists created by the Plurinational Assembly. Morales' party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS), controlled two-thirds of the seats in both houses of the Assembly and packed the lists with its supporters. This led to the removal of numerous judges appointed before 2009, who were deemed "temporary", and their replacement with new judges amid allegations of irregularities.

The Morales administration further weakened judicial independence by filing politically motivated charges against several of his political rivals. This pattern continued under the interim government of Jeanine Áñez, which publicly pressured prosecutors and judges, leading to criminal investigations of over 150 people linked to the Morales government for sedition, terrorism, or membership in a criminal organisation. Many of these cases appeared to be politically motivated.

In 2020, Luis Arce of the MAS was elected president. He has stated that the justice system should be independent from politics and has established a commission of experts to propose reforms. However, he also decreed an amnesty for crimes related to the country's 2019 political crisis, which appeared to favour his supporters and opened the door to impunity for serious crimes.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has expressed concern about the challenges arising in the election processes for the Supreme Court of Justice, the Plurinational Constitutional Court, the Agro-environmental Court, and the Council of the Judiciary. These challenges have the potential to undermine the effective functioning of the Bolivian justice system. The IACHR has urged the Bolivian state, particularly the Plurinational Legislative Assembly (ALP), to take effective measures to ensure the independence of the branches of government and the proper operation of the justice system.

Human rights

Bolivia's constitution and laws technically guarantee a wide range of human rights, but in practice, these rights are often violated. The country's chief human rights issues include harsh prison conditions, arbitrary arrests, and a corrupt judiciary.

Violence Against Women and Girls

Women and girls in Bolivia remain at high risk of violence. Despite a 2013 law establishing measures to prevent and prosecute gender-based violence, women's rights organisations report that survivors of domestic violence receive poor representation from public defenders and that the lack of public services, lengthy judicial processes, and financial burdens discourage most women from reporting abuse. Rape and other forms of violence against women are widespread.

Indigenous Peoples' Rights

Indigenous peoples in Bolivia continue to face barriers in exercising their right to free, prior, and informed consent regarding measures that may affect them. They are also severely affected by fires set by farmers that spread to Indigenous lands. Additionally, Indigenous lands are not fully demarcated, and land reform remains a major political issue.

Freedom of Expression and Assembly

The Bolivian government has been criticised for taking actions designed to restrict independent media or encourage self-censorship. Journalists face threats, harassment, and violence, particularly during election-related protests. The government has also been accused of pressuring media outlets to report favourably on government policies by withholding advertising and imposing steep taxes.

Prison and Detention Centre Conditions

Prisons in Bolivia are overcrowded and lack adequate medical services, resulting in harsh and life-threatening conditions. Violence is pervasive due to inadequate internal security, and corruption is common, with prisoners often bribing officials for improved living conditions and other privileges.

Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

Arbitrary arrest and detention are prohibited by law in Bolivia, but the government does not always respect this. Prolonged pretrial detention is a significant issue, particularly for women, and is often the result of complex legal procedures, judicial inefficiency, executive interference, and corruption.

Right to a Fair Trial

The judiciary in Bolivia is overburdened, vulnerable to undue influence by the executive and legislative branches, and plagued by allegations of corruption. Authorities have been known to pressure judges to change verdicts, and judges and prosecutors sometimes practice self-censorship to avoid becoming targets of verbal and legal harassment.

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