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Politics

Bolivian's protest president's term extension bid

October 11, 2017

Thousands of Bolivians have taken part in protests against President Evo Morales' bid to run for a fourth term. Morales' party asked the courts to remove re-election limits, saying they violate human rights.

https://p.dw.com/p/2lcD0
Women shout anti-government slogans and wave Bolivian flags as they mark 35 years of Bolivia's democracy and protest President Evo Morales
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Karita

Bolivian President Evo Morales' most recent attempt to extend term limits prompted protests across Bolivia on Tuesday.

In San Francisco square in the city of La Paz, protesters carried signs that read: "Bolivia said 'no'!" while others waved around the country's red, yellow and green flag. Former President Carlos Mesa also took part in the demonstration, reported El Deber newspaper.

People gather outside the Basilica of San Francisco to mark 35 years of Bolivia's democracy and protest an attempt by President Evo Morales to run for reelection
The protests also took place as people were gathered to watch the World Cup qualifying match between Bolivia and UruguayImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Karita

In a referendum last year, 51 percent of voters in Bolivia rejected Morales' proposal to reform the constitution to end current term limits. At the time, Morales accepted defeat.

Last month, however, the president's Movement to Socialism (MAS) party asked Bolivia's highest court to remove legal limits that currently bar officials from seeing re-election indefinitely. The party argued that these limits violate human rights.

The court has until December to rule on the MAS request or extend the deadline for a decision.

Read more: Morales to run again despite referendum loss

Bolivian President Evo Morales
Morales is pressing on with a bid to run for a fourth term, despite losing a referendum on abolishing current term limitsImage: imago/RF. Andrieu

Some demonstrators in La Paz expressed concerns that Morales was attempting to tighten his grip on power in a way similar to that of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"This is a political dictatorship ... we're not Venezuelan, we're Bolivian," Remigio Figueredo told Reuters news agency.

Government dismisses protest

Morales' administration criticized the demonstrations on Tuesday, saying that the country's right-wing opposition wants to make sure that the president cannot run for a fourth term in the 2019 race.

"Any constitutional reform needed can be implemented when the will of the people is at stake," Justice Minister Hector Arce told TV channel Cadena A.

Morales, the country's first indigenous president, came to power in 2006 and currently has an approval rating of roughly 50 percent. He has said he would give up his office, but that his supporters are urging him to stay.

Tuesday's protests, which also took place in Santa Cruz and other regional capitals, coincided with the 35th anniversary of the country's return to democracy following the end of a military dictatorship in 1982.

rs/kms (Reuters, epd)