The resignation of Evo Morales: stories of revenge and the story of a coup that never existed

The arrest of the controversial governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camachoa furious critic of the official MAS, far from the tones in which the political dispute in Bolivia is usually given, configures an excess of the exercise of history and post-truth.

The provincial leader was arrested violently and without respecting his privileges as part of the “trial” for “the coup” which, according to the government narrative, he toppled Evo Morales from power just over three years ago.

But in Bolivia, in November 2019, there were no military uprisings, proclamations or communiqués closing powers.

Not even generals in woven uniforms arrested civilian commanders. What happened was a social upheaval originating from an abuse of the law committed by the fallen president himself.

Morales had stood in the elections of October 20, 2019 to seek a fourth consecutive term.

Done violating the ruling of a plebiscite in which their bases voted against this possibility. But the leader argued that this ban meant a political ban.

Elections were held, and as the polls began, it became clear that Morales was winning but he could not avoid a runoff in which the opposition would surely unite and defeat him.

But suddenly systems inexplicably shut down. When the count was resumed the next day, the president I had the necessary ten points win in the first round. The re-election was saved.

The people in the square, especially youth sectors, reacted furiously to the maneuver which he translated as yet another mockery of the violation of the plebiscite.

All of this was taking place in a country that was losing its economic momentum, which eroded popular support for Morales, including that of the indigenous peoples of the Bolivian Amazon who were expelled from their lands by the government to expand the agricultural frontier.

Vote manipulation was taken over by the OSAwhose secretary general Luis Almagro had been the only international diplomat to back Evo’s new, unending re-election fervor.

Growing violence in the streets and government interrogations created a power vacuum that led then Defense Minister Eduardo Zavaleta to warn that it was one step away from “total lack of control (and) at any moment the deaths would begin to be counted.” by the dozen.” he wasn’t wrong.

The tension was such that in that ravine the Bolivian Confederation of Labourthe historic and legendary COB, proposed to Morales to resign.

“If it is certainly an action and a measure to pacify the people, colleague president, we invite you to reflect that you can take on this responsibility. If there is a need to resign, to pacify the people, we do it, we say it from the Central Obrera Boliviana to pacify the country”, the head of the central Juan Carlos Huarachi told him on November 10th.

It was one day before Evo tendered his resignation. Shortly before, after the union pronouncement, a friend of Morales, the head of the Armed Forces, Williams CalimanHe made the same suggestion. Evo accepted and left for Mexico.

It was in the capital of that country, in the first stage of the exile that followed in Argentina, that he wrote the opportunistic account of the coup. A strange dream: Kaliman, the supposed dictator from the bad movie, was immediately demoted by the interim government that took over.