Former president Evo Morales’s claims—that he was the subject of a recent assassination attempt—have been refuted by Bolivia’s government. Morales described the event as “an attempt on my life,” saying that on Sunday night in the Cochabamba area, his convoy came under heavy gunfire. But Bolivia’s Interior Minister, Eduardo del Castillo, said that Morales’s version was “staged theatre,” claiming that the event resulted from a standard anti-drug patrol.
Was There an Assassination Attempt on Morales?
Leading Bolivian politician Evo Morales, who served from 2006 to 2019, shared a video on social media displaying what he claims to be bullet holes in the windscreen of his automobile. Morales is shown in the front seat in the video, clearly terrified as he relates his story of being targeted by gunshots.
Del Castillo said at a Monday press conference questioning the former president’s account of events, “Mr. Morales, nobody believes the theatre you have staged.”
Morales stated in a later post on X (previously Twitter), “We were shot at more than 18 times,” claiming he returned fire only after the cops initially started shooting at his convoy.
Was This an Anti-Drug Patrol Gone Wrong?
Bolivian Interior Minister del Castillo insists the incident has been misrepresented. He claimed that Morales’s convoy came upon an anti-drug trafficking patrol on a highway, a standard practice in the region. According to the minister, the convoy of the former president disregarded police warnings and left the scene, allegedly shooting officers and running over one in the course of departure.
A cop hurt during the incident is still in the hospital; del Castillo said Morales’s security staff is liable. “The patrol did nothing out of the ordinary,” he said, adamant that Morales and his supporters misinterpreted the event.
Who Will Lead the MAS Party in the Upcoming Election?
The dramatic incident occurs amid growing conflict between Morales and the present president of Bolivia, Luis Arce. Locked in a vicious power struggle over who should represent the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party in the next election, the two political heavyweights both lead devoted followers who have gone to the streets in protests and, in recent weeks, have seen bloody conflicts with police throughout the nation.
A pro-Morales MAS party section sent a statement claiming that “men in black fired on Morales’s vehicle as it passed a military barracks.” This group blamed President Arce’s government directly; some members said the event was a calculated attempt to marginalise Morales politically.
Are Morales' Legal Troubles Adding Fuel to the Fire?
Complicating the former president’s situation further are court battles Morales is now engaged in on allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking. Morales has refuted all charges, saying they are politically motivated claims fuelled by the same “right-wing vendetta” he claims drove him to quit in 2019 following suspicions of electoral wrongdoing.
“These charges all fit a campaign against me and my supporters,” Morales said. “Government wants to bury my political career.”
Will Morales' Supporters Escalate Their Protests?
Morales’s charges have energised his followers, many of whom have already stopped important routes and collided with police throughout Bolivia in protest. As Morales and Arce organise their bases, their continuous power battle seems unprecedented. Driven to express their allegiance to their particular politicians, demonstrators are ready to march in masse, running in danger of possible violence.
According to reports, both groups have turned to street confrontations; political disputes are leaking into actual physical conflicts. Morales and Arce still significantly impact the MAS party, and neither side seems ready to compromise as the elections approach.
Bolivia’s highly polarised political scene is highlighted by mounting discontent as the population observes the drama unfold. This keeps the country on edge as Morales and Arce’s competition sharpens.
