Only Unity will Save Bolivia’s Sovereignty

By Rosalba Lo Bue Antico on January 21, 2020

Only 73 days have passed since the fateful civic-police coup d’état staged in connivance with the Armed Forces against the Pluri-National State of Bolivia’s 14 years of democratic and cultural revolution headed by Evo Morales.

Bolivians are getting ready to rescue their sovereignty in an election next May 3rd, with the electoral ticket of former Minister of Economics Luis Arce and former Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca who were elected by leaders of the Movement For Socialism (MAS) party representing Bolivia’s nine departments and the Pact of Unity in Argentina’s capital city on January 19.

The decision was taken during the historic high-level meeting of the Movement for Socialism – Political Instrument for Peoples Sovereignty (MAS-IPSP), and the Pact of Unity, convened by Evo Morales in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, they ratified an Agreement for Unity and the objective of strengthening their political organization. Elected candidates committed to defend the struggles of social movements’ for natural resources and the large political and economic transformations achieved in 14 years of democratic and cultural revolution.

There was also agreement  to defend the Homeland’s greatest interests, threatened today by neoliberal and foreign interests that led to a political crisis in the country after the coup d’état was staged on November 10, 2019, not only impacting Bolivia but also becoming a geopolitical issue for the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Pact of Unity gathers trade unions and peasants, indigenous and neighborhood organizations, representing the MAS-IPSP rank-and-file. It is made up of the Unified Syndical Confederation of Rural Workers of Bolivia (CSUTCB); the National Confederation of Peasant Indigenous Originary Women of Bolivia – Bartolina Sisa (CNMCIOB-BS); the Syndicalist Confederation of Intercultural Communities of Bolivia (CSCIOB); the Confederation of Indigenous Peoples of Bolivia (CIDOB); and the National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ).

In this connection, commemorating the Day of the Pluri-National State of Bolivia on January 22 according to Decree 405 established in 2010, MAS decided to present its candidates and send a message of reflection and fraternal spirit to the country, bringing a symbolic end to Evo Morales’ third term in office.

This way, peacefully and with dignity, they begin a path full of sacrifice, defeating major difficulties to rescue the continuity of a free and sovereign Homeland. Ensuring a victory next May 3, they will give the world a lesson of democracy and they will put a stop to the neoliberalism, fascism, and terrorism imposed by Bolivia’s racist and reactionary right wing, headed by the White House and its colonial tools such as the Organization of American States (OAS).

The interim government of Jeannine Añez was supposed to carry out only two things; pacifying the country by enforcing public order, and calling for elections. Instead she took a direction of meddling and favoring the Monroe Doctrine.  Her de facto Government has represented a setback for the country in political, economic, social, military, and international matters.  It’s worth mentioning that she has put at risk Bolivia’s economy by increasing public expenditure and fiscal deficit. She has also delayed the payment of taxes to entrepreneurs and dismantled Morales’ community-economic model.

Añez’s foreign policy has taken a reactionary path that includes, breaking of relations with Venezuela; confrontations with  Mexico and Spain, as well as the European Union. She also the country out of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and she is possibly leaving the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR); moreover, Bolivia has now joined the Lima Group, resumed relations with the United States, and more recently the country failed to attend a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Therefore, these elections—aimed at restoring the country’s constitutional order—will have the priority goal of achieving national reconciliation and reunion among all Bolivians. For this to happen a strong unity will be crucial in the political movement to boost a single, collective electoral proposal that answers to people’s interests and projects Bolivia towards a better future.

The candidate for President in next May elections is Luis Arce, former Economics and Finances Minister, who is considered the main architect in Bolivia’s economic resurgence under Evo Morales  from 2006-2019. Meanwhile, former Foreign Affairs Minister (2006-2017) and former ALBA secretary general (2017-2019) David Choquehuanca was nominated as Vice-President. Their nominations are aimed at restoring the South American country’s economic stability, bringing peace nationwide while reclaiming its international recognition.

Source: Red Angostura, translation, Resumen Latinoamericano, North America bureau