Evo Morales Accuses Bolivia's President of Orchestrating "Brutal Judicial War" Following Arrest Warrant

 

Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales has strongly denied allegations made against him and accused current president Luis Arce of orchestrating a "brutal judicial war" in response to a recently issued arrest warrant. The warrant, which has been active since October, accuses Morales of human trafficking involving a 15-year-old girl with whom he allegedly fathered a child in 2016.

Public prosecutor Sandra Gutiérrez confirmed the active warrant, but noted that efforts to arrest Morales have been hindered by the perceived danger to police officers, as the former president has been under the protection of rural coca growers in Cochabamba, where he resides. Morales, who governed Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, took to social media to claim that Arce, a former ally turned political rival, is using the legal system to prevent him from running in the 2025 presidential elections.

Morales, 65, has repeatedly denied the charges, labeling the move as politically motivated and a strategy to undermine his candidacy. He further accused Arce of seeking to hand him over to the United States as a "trophy of war." Both men are members of the left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, though their relationship has soured in recent years. Arce, 61, who served as Morales’s finance minister, is now competing with his former mentor for the party’s presidential nomination, with Morales drawing his support mainly from rural coca growers, while Arce has stronger backing from urban middle and working-class voters.

The political rift between the two has deepened in recent months, as Bolivia faces a severe economic downturn, largely due to a decline in the country’s natural gas reserves. The country is grappling with a shortage of US dollars, a steep drop in imports, and rising public dissatisfaction. Morales, once seen as a symbol of economic progress, now faces increasing criticism over the nation's current economic difficulties.

The former president has also been outspoken about political developments in Bolivia, including a failed military uprising earlier this year. In June, he accused Arce of orchestrating a fake coup to boost his own popularity. Morales led a large protest march to La Paz in September, which resulted in violent clashes between his supporters and government forces.

The arrest warrant against Morales is valid for six months, and prosecutors claim that the alleged victim’s parents sent their daughter to Morales’s youth brigade in 2015 to further their political ambitions. A year later, she reportedly gave birth to a child, allegedly fathered by Morales. Despite the legal challenges, Morales has vowed to run for president in 2025, despite a ruling from Bolivia’s Supreme Court barring him from contesting elections.

Experts, such as King’s College London lecturer Angus McNelly, warn that Bolivia is facing a prolonged political crisis. McNelly expressed concern about the potential for further instability leading up to the 2025 elections, with no clear resolution in sight. The deepening political polarization within MAS, combined with the weak opposition, could result in more violence and uncertainty in the years ahead.