Against the backdrop of tensions within her government over her candidacy for the presidential election on May 3, Bolivia's acting president Jeanine Añez asked all of her ministers to resign on Sunday January 26.
In a press release from the presidency, Mme Añez announces that she "Has decided to request the resignation of all the ministers with a view to this new stage in the democratic transition", pointing out that it is "Normal" than "Adjustments are taking place within the executive" before an election.
Contrary to what she had promised, Jeanine Añez announced her candidacy for the presidential election on Friday. "I did not plan to participate in this election", assured Mme Añez, stressing that she had finally decided to launch out of lack of unity in the opposition to the Movement towards socialism (MAS) of ex-president Morales, at the head of the polls. "The dispersion of votes and candidacies led me to make this decision", she said. Following this announcement, his Minister of Communication, Roxana Lizarraga, resigned and accused her of“Having lost sight of one's objectives”.
Morales' party in mind
According to a poll published Sunday by the daily Pagina Siete, MAS – the party of ex-Bolivian head of state, Evo Morales, exiled in Argentina since December – leads the voting intentions with 26%, ahead of regional leader Luis Fernando Camacho (right) and the former centrist president Carlos Mesa, both credited with 17%.
The poll was conducted between January 9 and 13, which explains why it does not include the name of the MAS candidate, former Minister of the Economy Luis Arce, who was only appointed after, but only the name of the party. The interim president, Jeanine Añez, collects 12%.
Evo Morales resigned under pressure from the armed forces after his victory in the first round of the presidential election on October 20, a poll marred by irregularities according to the Organization of American States (OAS). Mr. Morales had been in power for thirteen years.
Jeanine Añez assumed the presidency on November 12 as second vice-president of the Senate, whereas the holders of the functions higher than hers envisaged by the Constitution to replace the president had also resigned from their mandate.
