Bolivia - January 2024

Supporters of former President Evo Morales blocked roads in different regions, including a major highway, demanding the resignation of Constitutional Court judges. They allege that the Court’s recent ruling, which disqualified Morales from running in the 2025 elections, was a judicial ‘coup’. Protesters also allege that the ruling was intended to pave the way for incumbent Luis Arce to run for re-election as the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) candidate, in exchange for the Executive’s support for the extension of judicial terms.  

The ruling directly contradicts a prior 2017 judgment of the same Constitutional Court (albeit with different members).  

Protesters further demanded that judicial elections, which have been delayed since last year, be convened.  

Pressure from the economic losses generated by the roadblocks influenced members of the National Assembly to come to an agreement in early February, deciding that judicial elections should be convened for June. 

Sources: El Litoral, El País (1), El Deber, Infobae, El País (2), El País (3), La Nación, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights