In exile in Buenos Aires, the former Bolivian president, Evo Morales, denounced a coup d'état perpetrated because of his country's lithium riches, in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday 24 December. “The industrialized countries do not want to compete. We have started to replace imports. And I’m absolutely convinced that this is a coup for lithium, explained Mr. Morales (…). We know that we have the largest reserves in the world, 16,000 km² lithium. "
The first indigenous president of Bolivia, Mr. Morales resigned on November 10 after being released by the military and under pressure from opposition protests, who contested his re-election in the first round for a fourth term. The post-electoral crisis in Bolivia left around 30 people dead and hundreds injured.
On December 18, the Bolivian prosecution issued an arrest warrant against the former president, as part of an investigation launched into sedition and terrorism. This decision was immediately qualified as'Unfair' and illegal by the former head of state. "It does not scare me, as long as I am alive, I will continue with even more force the political and ideological fight for a free and sovereign Bolivia, had reacted Evo Morales on Twitter. Fourteen years after the start of our revolution, the "best gift" that I receive from the de facto government, it is an unjust, illegal and unconstitutional arrest warrant. "
The prosecution had opened an investigation following a complaint filed by the interior minister on November 22 against Evo Morales. He accused him of "Sedition and terrorism" for inciting his supporters, in a recording released by the authorities, to set up blockades around La Paz. "Do not leave any food in the cities, we will block everything and (the) encircle "said the voice that Mr. Murillo gives to the former president.
The presidential candidate will be chosen in mid-January
After the forced resignation of Mr. Morales and his departure for exile in Argentina, the Bolivian Parliament voted at the end of November a law calling for presidential and legislative elections, declaring that the former socialist president would not have the right to be a candidate.
The former Bolivian president last week called in an interview to send an international mission to Bolivia to guarantee free and fair elections. He also said he was a victim, along with his supporters, of"Political persecution". Bolivia "Is under a dictatorship", according to him.
Morales told AFP on Tuesday that his party’s candidate Movement for Socialism for the 2020 presidential election will be chosen in mid-January at an organized rally " in Bolivia or Argentina ”.
