This January 22 marked 14 years since the creation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Bolivian citizens, Indigenous organizations, social movements and trade unions commemorated the day with several peaceful mobilizations across the country, demanding the restoration of democracy after the civic-military coup against the constitutional government of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS). Meanwhile, former Bolivian President Evo Morales celebrated the 14th anniversary of the “Democratic and Cultural Revolution” at the Spanish Sports Stadium, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he is living as a political refugee.
“Today we celebrate 14 years of our Democratic and Cultural Revolution and the Plurinational State Day. We are the unstoppable force of people that have decided never to go back again. We have shown that another Bolivia is possible, a dignified and sovereign homeland,” wrote Morales in a tweet.
In Bolivia, as a part of the Plurinational State Day celebrations, several massive demonstrations were carried out in different parts of the departments of Cochabamba, La Paz and Santa Cruz, in support of the new MAS candidates, Luis Acre and David Coquehuanca, for the general elections scheduled for May 3.
In Argentina, thousands of Bolivians living in the country along with members of Argentine social movements and organizations joined the celebration event, addressed by Morales.
In 2010, Morales issued a decree and declared January 22 as the Plurinational State Day and a national holiday to celebrate the change in the name of the country and the adoption of a new constitution on this day in 2009.
In 2009, Morales promulgated a change to the constitution of Bolivia, recognizing in statute the multicultural nature of Bolivia and the inclusion of the Indigenous people of 36 cultural nationalities. The new constitution changed the official name of the country from the Republic of Bolivia to the Plurinational State of Bolivia in order to dignify the diversity of Indigenous people that make up Bolivia.
The day also coincides with the date on which Morales, the first Indigenous President, assumed power and began his first presidential term in 2006.
Every year on this day, during his tenure as head of the government of Bolivia, Morales presented an annual report of his party’s achievements in the economic, social and political sphere in the National Assembly. This year Morales also addressed the people of Bolivia and presented the report during the event in Argentina. Morales’ speech was broadcasted live in Bolivia on screens installed at various demonstration points in several cities.
Morales asked the people of Bolivia for their support and reiterated that his party would continue the process of change. He expressed his faith in Bolivians and said that the MAS would return to power after winning the presidential elections in May with the votes and with the joy of the people.
