Bolivia’s three-time former President Evo Morales said he would run again in 2025, as factionalism in the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party intensifies.
“Our hand has been forced by all the attacks of the government and all its plans to eliminate us politically and even physically. We have decided to accept the requests of our activists and from so many sisters and brothers to be presidential candidates of our dear Bolivia,” Mr. Morales posted on social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mr. Morales has been openly feuding with key members of President Luis Arce’s government such as Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo and Justice Minister Iván Lima, accusing them of conspiring to implicate him in corruption cases.
The former president was ousted from power in 2019 after attempting a controversial third re-election, which many said violated the country’s constitution. Right-wingers Luis Camacho and Jeanine Añez staged a coup after arguing Mr. Morales’ 2019 election win was based on fraud, but their claims were never proven. Both are now in prison.
While living in exile in Argentina, Mr. Morales backed the candidacy of his former economy minister, Luis Arce, in a new election in 2020 — which Mr. Arce won comfortably. But the former president and his former star minister have not seen eye to eye since.
His vice president, David Choquehuanca, an indigenous leader just like Mr. Morales, has taken aim at the excesses of Mr. Morales’ last years in power, from his re-election attempts to alleged “corruption and abuse of power,” demanding a mea culpa from the former president. Many of Mr. Morales’ supporters believe the vice president crossed a line when he suggested he was a “coward” for fleeing during the coup against him.
Mr. Arce has tried to avoid a direct confrontation with his political godfather and has avoided any discussion of whether he will run for re-election in 2025. But the possibility of a heated MAS primary will only increase now that Mr. Morales has become the first to throw his name into the hat of candidates.
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