Bolivia - November 2024

On 14 November, a Chamber of the Constitutional Tribunal recognized Grover Garcia, an ally of President Luis Arce, as head of the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party. Division within MAS, stemming from a power struggle between former President Evo Morales and Arce, led the party to hold competing assemblies, one in which Morales was chosen as the party’s leader and a second in which ‘Arcistas’ gained leadership positions. The Chamber confirmed the validity of the assembly held by Arce loyalists, taking control of the party from its founder, Morales, despite previous rulings of the Electoral Tribunal that determined both factions had violated the party’s statutes. In a separate ruling it confirmed Morales’s ineligibility to run for president, vice-president or preside the legislature's chambers because he has exceeded the constitutional limit of 10 years as president. Demonstrations in support of Morales continued, with some reports of violence and with Morales temporarily going on hunger strike. Whether Morales continues to call for mobilizations and to seek elected office, remains to be seen.

Sources: Educación Radiofónica de Bolivia, La Razón, El Pais