Evo Morales Claims Assassination Attempt via Gunfire on His Vehicle

Evo Morales, the former Bolivian president, claimed that his car was shot at in an assassination attempt that he attributes to forces within the current government. Despite the attack, President Luis Arce condemned political violence and promised an investigation, while tensions rise between the two politicians as both seek candidacy in the 2025 elections.

Evo Morales, the former president of Bolivia, reported an assassination attempt after shots were fired at the car he was traveling in. On Sunday, he shared a video on social media showcasing visible bullet holes in the vehicle’s windscreen, where he was seated in the front. Morales’s political party, the Movement for Socialism (Mas), accused men dressed in black of ambushing his car as it passed near a military barracks, asserting that they hold President Luis Arce’s administration accountable for the attack. President Arce has since condemned the violence engulfing politics in Bolivia and vowed to initiate an investigation into the shooting. Despite both men being affiliated with the Mas party, their relationship has soured considerably due to competing ambitions for the party’s candidacy in the upcoming 2025 presidential elections. Morales characterized the incident as a collaborative effort between military and police personnel, claiming that a bullet narrowly missed him and that the driver sustained injuries. The attack took place close to the Ninth Division base of the Bolivian Army, as specified by Morales. A faction within the pro-Morales Mas party suggested that those involved in the attack had temporarily taken refuge in the military facility before being evacuated by military helicopter. They maintained that this incident is indicative of a wider campaign against Morales, labeling the current government as fascist. Having served as president from 2006 until 2019, Morales contends that the ongoing legal troubles he faces, which include allegations of statutory rape and human trafficking—charges he strongly denies—are part of a political vendetta orchestrated by the interim government that succeeded him following his resignation tied to accusations of electoral fraud. In the wake of these developments, Morales’s supporters have engaged in road blockades throughout Bolivia and have clashed with law enforcement. Both Morales and Arce possess dedicated factions willing to engage actively in protests and demonstrations to express their political allegiance.

Evo Morales, who led Bolivia as president for over a decade, has recently asserted that he has been targeted for assassination amid rising tensions within his political party and ongoing legal challenges. The climate of political violence and rivalry within the Movement for Socialism party amid aspirations for the 2025 presidential elections has underscored a fracturing alliance. While Morales maintains that these legal troubles are fabricated in retaliation for his political stance, the current administration under President Luis Arce faces accusations of complicity in attacks against Morales. This situation reveals deep rifts in Bolivian politics as factions vie for power and influence against a backdrop of historical confrontations and societal unrest.

In summary, Evo Morales reported an assassination attempt involving gunfire directed at a vehicle he occupied, attributing responsibility to a faction of the current government led by President Luis Arce. This incident highlights the increasing polarization within Bolivian politics, particularly as both men mobilize their respective bases in anticipation of the 2025 presidential elections. Morales’s claims of a coordinated attack by military and police forces have raised concerns about political violence in Bolivia, with both men now potential presidential candidates amid a backdrop of ongoing strife and demonstrations from their supporters.

Original Source: www.bbc.com