Bolivia: crisis of 2019 and Morales take over the political agenda of Luis Arce’s first year

The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, celebrates a year of leadership of the country with an insistent rhetoric about a “coup” during the crisis of 2019 and before the figure of former president Evo Morales with strong influence on the national political agenda.

Upon assuming the Presidency, Arce spoke of seeking “unity and complementarity”Between regions, city and country, and not foster an environment of“resentment and revenge”, Although he was also tough on the interim government, which, he said, was not attached to the Constitution and deepened the crisis caused by the pandemic.

In line with the Arce administration, the figure of Morales and his incidence on the country’s political agenda have been, together with related organizations that make up the so-called “Pact of Unity”, Has warned about the risks of destabilization and insisted on sanctioning the“ coup plotters ”.

“Coup” and reconciliation

Justice and reconciliation have been many times opposed aspects, with Arce more oriented to settle accounts for the events of 2019 and with Vice President David Choquehuanca more inclined to heal wounds and an apparent contradiction between the two.

In the opinion of Hugo Siles, former Minister of Autonomy in the Morales government, the events of 2019 were a “coup”, “cannot be archived“And it is necessary to close that question to”achieve justice”And thus move towards a reconciliation.

Siles said that there is still a “polarization environment“Political and showing that reconciliation and justice are” pending issues “due to what happened in the so-called massacres of Sacaba and Senkata with the death of a score of civilians during the interim government of Jeanine Áñez.

Instead, the political analyst Marcelo Arequipa stated that reconciliation “it has not been a priority“, Since the Government of Arce preferred”impose yourself by force against your opponents“Instead of first making a” comprehensive reform “of Justice.

Arequipa stressed that there has not been a criterion “proportional”Between the emphasis given to“coup”And the search for justice for those who died during the conflicts of 2019 after the failed elections of that year.

Influence of the masism

For the analyst it is a fact that Arce “fails to set the political agenda in the country“, As much as the president has sought to leave behind his” technocratic “profile in his first months and lately to project an image of a” tough politician. “

Arequipa considered that Arce’s management lacks a “communication policy strategy”With a low profile before the media and only one press conference held in a year.

For his part, Siles admitted that Arce has “a different style”And that for this reason it has incorporated a presidential spokesperson; in addition, that it uses information channels that “They are different”.

Arce “has control over public management“While Morales above all the”organic”Or a supporter related to the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS) due to his status as president of that group, Siles said.

Pandemic management

Both Siles and Arequipa agreed that the management of the pandemic and mainly the acquisition of vaccines and the immunization process have been Arce’s outstanding note during this first year.

For Siles, the fact that more than 50% of the population has been vaccinated with complete schemes has a direct impact on the recovery of the economy and activities.

Despite this, Arequipa considered that vaccination has encountered the “weakness” of the Government by not being able to “connect” with its bases in the countryside, where the immunization process has been insufficient.

Among the pending challenges are the recurring cases of femicide that, according to the data of the Prosecutor’s Office, are close to one hundred again, a record that has changed very little in recent years and raises the need for a judicial reform to make the current regulations effective for that end.