Evo Morales greets Lula and presents the Brazilian president with a coat
Bolivia’s President Luis Arce has been expelled from the Movement for Socialism (MAS), the party with which he won the 2020 elections.
Arce and Evo Morales, who were former allies, are now opponents over the 2025 presidential elections. Morales will be the MAS candidate.
The ruling party led by Morales deposed Arce because he refused to attend the (MAS) congress that took place between Tuesday and Thursday in Cochabamba.
According to the resolution approved by Morales’ supporters, Arce “excluded himself” by missing the meeting that was supposed to name his rival as candidate for the December primaries that will produce the presidential candidate.
Another 28 MAS activists loyal to Arce, including lawmakers and government officials, were also expelled.
1 of 1 Luis Arce and his political godfather Evo Morales — Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP Luis Arce and his political godfather Evo Morales — Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP
Dispute over party leadership
Morales, who ruled between 2006 and 2019, is competing with Arce for the party’s leadership.
The rivalry that destroyed MAS unity intensified last year after Morales criticized the government for its alleged betrayal, corruption and tolerance of the drug trade.
After his unsuccessful attempt to be reelected in 2019 after 14 years in office, the leftist Morales encouraged the seizure of power by Arce, who has not yet announced whether he will seek reelection.
During its congress, the MAS also changed its statutes so that only members with 10 years of party membership can apply. Arce does not meet this requirement.
The electoral judiciary must ratify or invalidate the MAS decisions.
Arce withdrew a few days before the government party conference, claiming that social organizations were not represented.
“We cannot go into a house where its real owners, the social organizations, are not present,” stressed the president and former minister of Morales.
Without his mentor’s indigenous origins or charisma, Arce managed to strengthen his leadership in the social and union base through the granting of incentives.
According to a survey by the private company Diagnosis, their opposition is at 50%.
However, given the weakened opposition and the rejection that Morales is generating in economic sectors, it is assumed in party circles that Arce will seek reelection.