Introduction
Bolivian Senate leader Andronico Rodriguez has been confirmed as eligible to run in the upcoming presidential elections, according to a constitutional court ruling. In contrast, former President Evo Morales continues to be barred from the race.Context
Rodriguez, who is affiliated with Bolivia's fragmented ruling Movement for Socialism party, initially encountered challenges when attempting to register his own political party for the elections. Morales, despite his current unavailability to run, has urged his supporters to protest for his eligibility.Developments
The court has granted approval for Rodriguez's "Third System" party to participate in the elections scheduled for August. A recent Ipsos CIESMORI poll positions him as the leading candidate for the left, surpassing opposition figures such as businessman and economist Samuel Doria and conservative ex-President Jorge Quiroga.Meanwhile, Morales maintains a diminished political influence, as he remains confined within a compound in rural Bolivia, guarded by supporters to avoid an arrest warrant. He continues to assert his intention to return to power. In a post on X, he criticized the court's actions, likening them to those of a "sniper" serving "the empire's plan," noting that it manipulates candidates' participation based on demand.
Despite his aspirations, courts have determined that Morales, who has completed three presidential terms, is ineligible for another run. Senior Judge Rene Yvan Espada emphasized that political actors should refrain from judicializing the electoral process and urged Bolivian citizens to uphold their responsibility to ensure fair and peaceful elections.
Morales is attempting to capitalize on the declining popularity of current President Luis Arce, once his mentee, which is attributed to rising living costs, internal political disputes, and fuel shortages, sparking recent protests and street blockades.