Bolivia's Morales Accepts Presidential Bid in Snub to US

President Evo Morales of Bolivia has just declared he will run for re-election in 2019, in reaction to U.S. political interference in the top court's recent election ruling.

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His decision is in direct reaction to the U.S. Department of State calling the Bolivian Supreme Court decision to allow elected officials to run in three consecutive terms, “a step back for democracy.”

State department representative Heather Nauert released a statement Wednesday saying the U.S. is “deeply concerned by the Nov.28 ruling” by the Bolivian Supreme Court “to declare inapplicable provisions of the country’s constitution that prohibit elected officials, including the President, from serving more than two consecutive terms.” She claimed the provisions disregarded “the will of the Bolivian people as confirmed in recent referenda.”

Morales tweeted that prior to the U.S. comments he was “undecided” about re-running, “Faced with the proposal of the people, who have asked for my candidacy in 2019 elections, I was undecided. But now that the United States is requesting my resignation, I accept the candidacy sought by the Bolivian people.”

Morales reaffirmed his candidacy at a public event in Cochabamba today saying, "I was not so determined; now I am determined. I will be a candidate, sisters and brothers, in 2019."

The Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz said he was “surprised” by the court’s decision he claims “ignores” the “sovereign popular” vote of the people.

Morales tweeted to Muñoz that the Chilean “oligarch doesn’t want political or economic stability in [Bolivia]. This oligarchy is Bolivia’s enemy. We’ll continue to work so that by 2025 we’ve developed to be on par with Chile.”

Morales tweeted that the “U.S., the Chilean oligarch, and right-wing Bolivians are against the Bolivian people. They want to, again, divide us, rob us and take our natural resources.”

Morales noted on his Twitter account that in 2002 the U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Manuel Rocha, “said that if Bolivia elects Evo, [the U.S.] would not help Bolivia economically … The history of interference keeps repeating itself.”