He seeks a fourth presidential term, despite a ruling that states a person may only be reelected as president ‘once’ consecutively.

On Monday, Tahuichi Tahuichi, a member of Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), said the institution will not register former President Evo Morales’ candidacy for the Aug. 17 presidential election because the deadline to submit nominations has already passed.

RELATED:

Bolivian Electoral Court Suspends Andronico Rodriguez’s Presidential Candidacy

“I want to make this very clear: this electoral process is governed by the principle of preclusion. The electoral regime law states that no stage of an electoral process can be reviewed or reversed,” he said.

Tahuichi’s remarks came in response to a ruling by the Departmental Constitutional Court of La Paz, which ordered electoral authorities to issue a new, justified resolution regarding the cancellation of the National Bolivian Action Party (Pan-Bol), the party Morales seeks to use as a platform to run for president. However, the ruling does not state that the former president can register as a candidate.

On May 30, the TSE’s Chamber Secretariat is expected to deliver to the full chamber a report listing the candidates who have been approved for the elections. Tahuichi explained that the Constitutional Court ordered the TSE to issue a new resolution “under new procedural reasoning,” but clarified that “extending the deadline for Pan-Bol to register candidates is not appropriate.”

Evo Morales’ text reads, “With great joy and revolutionary firmness, we announce a new democratic victory for the people! The Fourth Chamber of the Departmental Court of Justice of La Paz has ordered the restoration of the political rights of PAN-BOL, the party that accompanies us in this electoral process and supports our movement’s candidacies. This ruling is a victory for truth, justice, and the will of the people, which never surrenders. Now, with this resolution, it is time for the TSE to recognize the registration of our candidates to make our participation in this democratic race effective. We are stronger than ever! We will return, and we will return better, with the people and for the people!”

Supporters of Morales celebrated the Constitutional Court’s ruling but announced further mobilizations for Tuesday, which could extend to the country’s main highways until Morales’ candidacy is registered with the TSE. If not, they warned, “there will be a real revolution.”

“Although this ruling exists, it doesn’t guarantee anything. The struggle will continue in all nine departments,” said campesino leader Juanita Ancieta, a known Morales ally.

According to Tahuichi, the Constitutional Court ruling in La Paz must be reviewed by the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP), which can uphold or overturn the decision. Only then will the TSE make a final decision on Pan-Bol’s legal status — not on Morales’ candidacy.

The former president tried unsuccessfully to register his candidacy through Pan-Bol, but the party lost its legal status two weeks before the registration deadline. According to the Bolivian Constitution, Pan-Bol lost its registration after failing to reach 3% of the vote in the last election.

Morales seeks a fourth presidential term, despite a TCP ruling that states a person may only be reelected as president “once” consecutively. That ruling would disqualify Morales, who already governed the country for three terms: 2006–2009, 2010–2014, and 2015–2019.

Earlier this year, Morales also resigned from the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party and founded a new bloc, Evo Pueblo. However, this organization has not yet obtained legal status and therefore cannot register candidates. Morales has been estranged from President Luis Arce since 2021, due to disagreements over government management and control of the ruling MAS party.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

IN THIS ARTICLE