The Green Party of Bolivia urges supporters to polls “in defense of life and democracy”

TODAY, Bolivians head to polls nearly a year after the resignation and exile of ex-president Evo Morales. Morales was the leader of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party and the country’s first indigenous leader, who stepped down after 14 years in office amid allegations of fraud in the 2019 election.

“Bolivian citizens cannot allow the return to government of the demagogic practices of MAS, which internationally proclaimed the defense of Mother Earth and nature, but in reality is one of the governments most disguised in its predatory and squandering of our natural resources”

– Margot Soria Saravia, leader of the Green Party of Bolivia

The Partido Verde Ecologista (Green Ecologist Party) of Bolivia urges voters to turn to the polls “to regain democracy” in a video posted this morning on social media.

Margot Soria Saravia, leader of the Partido Verde Ecologista of Bolivia, reads a statement as follows:

“The Green Ecologist Party of Bolivia is present today to launch its National Leadership statement in the face of the constant threat of the Movement to Socialism (MAS) to take power with violence. The Green Ecologist Party of Bolivia calls on its members and supporters to go to the polls on October 18 in defense of life and democracy.

“Bolivian citizens cannot allow the return to government of the demagogic practices of MAS, which internationally proclaimed the defense of Mother Earth and nature, but in reality is one of the governments most disguised in its predatory and squandering of our natural resources, promoting the extractivist model; one of the governments that constantly violated the State of Rights, institutionality and human rights, generating a culture of impunity, leaving the citizenship unprotected, undermining the bases of the real democracy.

“The Green Ecologist Party of Bolivia calls on its members and to the society in general to assume its position together with the citizen community for the responsibility for the future of our children, of our country. The Green Party of Bolivia will always be present in the defense of the systems of life, the flora, the fauna and the people, for life, justice and equality.”

As Jaime Aparicio-Otero (previous Bolivian ambassador to the US and writer for Foreignpolicy.com) puts, “Bolivians will finally head to the polls again on Sunday to elect a new president in what will be the second general election in Latin America since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region. The stakes are high—the election may determine not only Bolivia’s democratic future, but also the fate of leftist movements in South America and beyond.”

For more information:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54552921

Sarah Cui

Sarah Cui is in her fourth year of undergraduate studies in Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo. Her background is intercultural, having grown up in both Ottawa and northwestern China. Her areas of interest include environmental policy, degrowth and conservation. In her free time, Sarah enjoys connecting with friends, hiking, identifying plants and learning a new language.

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