Feudal Politics

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Violence broke out in Bolivia during a march in support of popular former President Evo Morales after counter-protesters blocked the route, underscoring an escalating power struggle in the country, Al Jazeera reported.

Morales mobilized his supporters for a week-long, 118-mile “March to Save Bolivia,” starting in the small village of Caracollo and ending in the capital, La Paz, after the current president, Luis Arce, accused him on national television of orchestrating a coup.

Morales and around 10,000 supporters attended the march, including farmers, miners and Indigenous Bolivians, the leftist leader’s traditional base. Morales resigned in 2019, following mass protests that resulted in 36 deaths over his disputed reelection for a third term, which was deemed unconstitutional.

The trek began peacefully but turned violent when counter-protestors blocked the route, deploying tear gas, stones and firecrackers. The pro-Morales camp protestors fought back, using slingshots to target the counter-protesters, according to the Associated Press.

About 13 people were injured in the violence, including three police officers. Morales blamed the current administration for the violence, saying it had sent undercover police officers to instigate it. The government denied the charge.

Arce and Morales lead different factions of the Movement for Socialism Party (MAS), the dominant political party in Bolivia. Morales was previously Arce’s mentor and appointed him as economy minister, supporting his candidacy in the 2020 elections while he was in exile in Argentina.

However, the relationship between the two turned sour when Morales returned to Bolivia, seeking to regain power. Arce’s time in office has been marked by a lack of political unity, a divided Congress, a worsening economic crisis and an alleged coup attempt by the military.

Meanwhile, Morales says he will run again in the 2025 elections.