On August 17, general elections were held in Bolivia. After almost two decades of rule by the leftist Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, two right-wing parties will contest the presidency. The second round of elections is scheduled for October 19.

Evo Morales described the ICC verdict as a “victory of truth over falsehood.” Jeanine Áñez’s coup-installed government had blamed Morales and union and farmer leaders for COVID-19 deaths after the 2020 general strike

The first elections since the coup d’état will be held on October 18 amid a tense social and political climate. This includes a military mobilization in La Paz the night before the polls and the suspension of the DIREPRE early results system

We talk to Zoe PC who is part of an election observation team from CODEPINK in Bolivia on the latest in election procedures, threats to election observers, the concerns with the DIREPRE system (which has since been suspended) and complaints of voter suppression

The deputy from Frente de Todos coalition in Argentina was detained at the airport in El Alto by immigration officials, police and unidentified individuals and taken to a detention center in the airport

Jorge Quiroga is the third right-wing presidential candidate who has dropped out of the electoral race in the past one month to unite against the progressive Movement Towards Socialism party

The people of Bolivia fear that the ruling coup government will be making use of all kinds of dirty tricks in order to steal the election from them.

MAS presidential candidate, Luis Arce, denounced the violent threats by the de-facto government officials and requested the active observation of the international organizations during and after the general elections

In the aftermath of the court’s ruling, far-right armed groups attacked MAS supporters waiting outside the court

Internal disputes within the de facto government led by Jeanine Áñez have intensified and led to the firing and resignation of several ministers

Áñez announced her withdrawal from the electoral race just a day after the country’s largest opinion poll placed her fourth in the presidential race

The MAS party has elected of peasant leader Leonardo Loza to replace Evo Morales as the candidate for Senate in Cochabamba