The Bolivian attorney general on Monday accused former president Evo Morales, a refugee in Argentina, of alleged crimes of terrorism and their financing, and again requested his arrest. The complaint against Evo Morales (2006-2019) relates to “the terrorist financing and terrorism offenses for allegedly coordinating” a “ food blockade and the encirclement of capitals (chief towns of Bolivian regions) during the conflicts of 2019 " Said the prosecution in a statement.
This is the second time that the prosecution has requested the arrest of ex-President Morales. In December, he requested his arrest for sedition and terrorism for the same facts. He then announced that he would request his arrest from Interpol, but without action. In February, the prosecution opened another investigation against him for alleged electoral fraud, but so far there have been no follow-up either.
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The government, which is led by interim president Jeanine Añez, regularly accuses the Movement to Socialism (MAS), the party of Evo Morales, of raising discontent among the Bolivian population. The government has intensified its attacks on the MAS, which holds a large majority in each of the two chambers of the Bolivian parliament, ahead of the general elections to be held on September 6.
Jeanine Añez, a right-wing senator, became interim president after the resignation in November 2019 of the socialist Evo Morales and his departure for exile. She is a candidate in the presidential election in September. Evo Morales does not have the right to run for president, his candidacy having been rejected. In power since 2006, Evo Morales had proclaimed himself the winner of the October 20 election where he was seeking a fourth term, but the opposition had cried fraud. After several weeks of demonstrations and his release by the police and the army, he announced his resignation and the elections were canceled.
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