Evo Morales Claims 'Lawfare' Strategy Is Targeting His 2025 Presidential Bid
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La Paz, Dec 18 (NationPress) Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has claimed that he is the victim of a 'lawfare' campaign intended to thwart his prospects in the presidential elections scheduled for next year.
The accusation was made shortly after the prosecutor's office announced an arrest warrant due to Morales' failure to appear for questioning related to an investigation involving charges of human trafficking and aggravated statutory rape.
Morales, who held the presidency from 2006 until 2019, has refuted the allegations, asserting that his constitutional rights, which include the principle of presumption of innocence, are being infringed upon.
On Monday, Bolivian Attorney General Roger Mariaca indicated that authorities would seek to impose a six-month detention on the ex-president while the investigation is ongoing, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
In September, the Bolivian government confirmed that Morales, who served as president from 2006 to 2019, is constitutionally barred from pursuing candidacy in the 2025 presidential elections.
This restriction arises from the nation's Constitution and is not a resolution made by the current government, according to Deputy Communication Minister Gabriela Alcon.
Alcon called on Morales' supporters to adhere to Bolivia's legal framework, especially as some have protested for his candidacy to be permitted.
"The most important thing is to respect the will of the Bolivian people," Alcon stated, emphasizing that the Constitution was approved by the citizens and "must be upheld."
Her comments followed the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) reaffirming that Bolivia prohibits indefinite re-election. The IACHR has also rejected three human rights complaints lodged against the Bolivian government concerning this matter.
Alcon referenced Article 168 of Bolivia's Constitution, which specifies that the presidential term lasts five years and allows for only one consecutive re-election. Given that Morales has already held multiple terms, he is therefore ineligible to run again.
She also cited a 2023 ruling from the Constitutional Court stating that indefinite re-election "is not a human right," a viewpoint supported by the IACHR.
Alcon underscored the need to resolve political conflicts through dialogue rather than through protests that could endanger the stability of the nation.
"We don't need to push the country toward conflict, violence, or instability. We need to focus on the well-being of the people," she concluded.
