Evo Morales Supporters Escalate Protests in Bolivia, Threatening Violence

Evo Morales Supporters Escalate Protests in Bolivia, Threatening Violence if Candidate is Ineligible LA PAZ, BOLIVIA – Tensions are rising in Bolivia as supporters of former president Evo Morales intensify their campaign to allow him to run for the presidency. Recent protests have included roadblocks, confrontations with police, and alarming threats against members of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Videos circulating on social media show protesters engaging in heated exchanges with law enforcement. One video shows a group of protesters chanting slogans and threatening to disrupt the upcoming elections if Morales is not allowed to participate. Another video shows a protestor shouting, "Será a las buenas o a las malas" ("It will be by fair means or foul"). The protesters have gone so far as to publicly release the home addresses of several TSE officials, raising serious concerns about their safety and the potential for violence. This escalation of tactics has drawn strong condemnation from various sectors of Bolivian society. "Without Evo, there will be no elections," one protester stated during a demonstration outside the TSE headquarters. This sentiment underscores the deep divisions within Bolivian society and the high stakes of the upcoming elections. While the TSE maintains that Morales is ineligible to run due to legal restrictions, the intensity of the protests and the threats against electoral officials are creating a climate of uncertainty and fear. The situation is being closely monitored by international observers and human rights organizations.