Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has alleged that he survived an assassination attempt on Sunday after unidentified individuals opened fire on his vehicle. Fortunately, he emerged unscathed from the incident, which has intensified the ongoing power struggle between him and his former protégé, current President Luis Arce.
Morales, aged 65, accused Arce's government of orchestrating this violent act as part of a broader strategy to exclude him from the political arena. He asserted that the attack reflects a coordinated campaign by Bolivian authorities against him.
The confrontation occurs within the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, where tensions have escalated as both Morales and Arce vie for control heading into next year's elections. Morales’ faction of the party issued a statement denouncing the attack, characterizing it as a manifestation of a "fascist government" willing to threaten the life of the former president.
According to the statement, Morales’ convoy was ambushed by two vehicles carrying heavily armed men dressed in black. Reports indicated that bullets flew perilously close to Morales, heightening fears for his safety.
In response, President Arce condemned the incident and called for an investigation, emphasizing that political disputes should never escalate to violence. “The exercise of any violent practice in politics must be condemned and clarified,” he posted on social media platform X. “Problems are not resolved by trying to kill people or by partisan speculation.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios refuted claims that police had targeted Morales, suggesting instead that authorities were exploring the possibility that the former president staged the attack to bolster his political standing. Rios expressed skepticism about Morales’ claims, asserting, “Morales is seeking confrontation and violence on the streets for political interests and to achieve impunity.”
This incident underscores the deepening divisions within Bolivia's political landscape, as both sides prepare for the upcoming electoral battle.
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