Two days after the new left-wing government took office in Argentina, former Bolivian President Evo Morales traveled to the South American country. "He's just arrived, he's come to stay," argued Foreign Minister Felipe Solá to a television station. Morales has been granted refugee status and he can apply for political asylum.
Morales resigned a month ago under pressure from the Bolivian military after being accused by the opposition and international election observers of cheating on the presidential election on 20 October. He initially exiled himself to Mexico.
In Bolivia, an interim government took over. The supporters of the country's first indigenous president and his allies in the region speak of a coup.
In Argentina, Morales can prepare for re-election
In recent days, Morales had undergone a health check in Cuba before traveling to Argentina. His two children had come to the country three weeks ago. "Evo Morales feels better here than in Mexico," said Foreign Minister Solá. Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard wrote on Twitter that Morales had thanked him for the generosity of the Mexican people.
It had previously been speculated that Morales wants to settle after the change of government in Buenos Aires in Argentina. There he is closer to his home country and can vote better before the planned election next year with his supporters of the left movement MAS.
On Tuesday, the new Argentine President Alberto Fernández took office. He is much more well-disposed to Morales than the conservative previous government. "We do not recognize the de facto government in Bolivia," Foreign Minister Solá said. "We hope to see new elections as soon as possible."
However, the new Argentine government is also setting conditions for its prominent guest. "We want Evo Morales to commit to not expressing itself politically in Argentina," said the Foreign Minister. So far, the Bolivian ex-president makes his opinion on the situation in his home every day several times on Twitter.
