Bolivia: Ex-President's Imminent Arrest Triggers Protests
The Facts
- Supporters of former Bolivian Pres. Evo Morales blocked two main roads and clashed with police on Monday, as they took to the streets to protest his looming arrest in connection with statutory rape and human trafficking charges.
- Demonstrators said that the blockades would continue indefinitely, and spread from the central department of Cochabamba — Morales' current location — to the entire country in the coming days.
- Protests have successfully blocked routes connecting Cochabamba with the cities of Santa Cruz and Sucre, with police suppressing a blockade in a road leading to La Paz. At least 12 people have been arrested.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
Arce has weaponized the judicial system against Morales and the popular movement he was expected to represent in a desperate move to stay in office amid an acute economic crisis. Let alone the fact that any case such as this should be handled in Cochabamba, these allegations against Morales are baseless.
Narrative B
Morales and his supporters are crying foul and playing the victim over an appropriate response to the fact that someone who was summoned to testify, failed to appear before the prosecution. This is clearly not personal against Morales, as it is not only about him but the alleged victim and her parents.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 20% chance that Bolivia will experience a successful coup d'etat before 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.