Evo Morales Fails to Register Presidential Candidacy as Bolivia’s Electoral Deadline Closes
Supporters of Evo Morales, May 20, 2025. X/ @France24_es
May 20, 2025 Hour: 2:30 pm
The leftist leader attempted to register his candidacy through a party that lost its legal status two weeks ago.
On Tuesday, Fernando Arteaga, secretary of the chamber of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), announced that the registration period for presidential candidates, which began May 14, has closed with ten political organizations submitting their candidates.
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Former Bolivian President Evo Morales was left out of the August 17 election after he failed to register his presidential candidacy with a political party that electoral authorities had not authorized.
The leftist leader attempted to register his candidacy through the Bolivian National Action Party (PAN-BOL). However, that party lost its legal status two weeks ago.
Arteaga confirmed that Morales was unable to register in time because “Evo Pueblo is not a party with current legal standing, and PAN-BOL has had its legal status canceled. Therefore, they cannot register candidates.”
Despite Arteaga’s statements, Morales said, “Our political instrument EVO PUEBLO (We Are Returning, Obeying the People) met the requirements and deadlines established to register our presidential candidacy through the TSE’s digital system.”
Currently, the Bolivian left is divided into three factions: one aligned with President Luis Arce, another loyal to Evo Morales, and a third supporting the candidacy of Senate President Andronico Rodriguez, who until recently was considered Evo’s political heir.
Morales, who governed Bolivia for three terms, continues to insist on running for president, despite the Constitutional Court reiterating last week that presidential reelection is allowed only once consecutively, with no possibility of a third term.
Meanwhile, the ruling Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) was among the last to arrive at TSE headquarters for the physical registration of its candidates, leading a caravan headed by Arce and his presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Eduardo del Castillo and Milan Berna, respectively.
Del Castillo, who served as interior minister until Friday, was announced as MAS’s presidential candidate following Arce’s decision not to seek reelection.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
