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The accusation of a presidential “self-proclamation” against the former interim president of bolivia Jeanine Añez During the political crisis of 2019, this Tuesday was the center of the discussion in the trial for the case called “coup d’état II”, which entered a new recess.
The legal act continued in a court in La Paz in a semi-face-to-face manner, with Áñez and other defendants connected virtually from different prisons, while the Ministry of Government (Interior) presented its arguments in the stage of presentation of allegations prior to the reading of a sentence.
“She (Áñez) could never, by Constitution and regulations (of the Chambers of Parliament) be president, interpreting the Constitution in her own way,” assured one of the legal representatives of the Ministry of Government (Interior).
According to that position, Áñez incurred in a “self-proclamation” to access the Presidency after the resignation of then President Evo Morales, in addition to his vice president and the leaders of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The Ministry of Government identified at least three moments in which Áñez allegedly “violated” the Constitution, the regulations and the laws of the Police and the Armed Forces by giving orders to the Army and installing two sessions in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies without the official majority of the Movement to Socialism (MAS).
They argue that there was still one legislator left in the chain of presidential succession, whose resignation was announced on social networks, information that was later deleted the same day Morales resigned, and was finally formalized a few days later.
Today’s hearing continued despite the shouts and protests outside of a crowd, including several public officials who identified themselves with the civilians killed in the Sacaba and Senkata massacres during the Áñez Administration, until it was finally determined that continue with the view this Wednesday.
In statements to the media, Carolina Ribera, daughter of the former interim president, asserted that “false evidence” was presented and that it is not appropriate for her mother to be accused of having self-proclaimed.
“My mother never proclaimed herself (president)”, “they do not say that Evo Morales fled” and “that there was a vacuum of power”. “Justice is totally biased,” he said, adding that in the two hours of exposition by the Ministry of Government, “the truth was distorted” and lied “deliberately.”
This Tuesday Áñez’s defense filed a release action that was rejected and in this hearing the former president asked the court to consider her state of health due to the difficulties caused by the medication she receives, since the trial sessions last up to five hours.
Áñez has been in preventive detention since March 2021 accused of sedition, terrorism and conspiracy for the 2019 post-election crisis that led to the resignation of then-president Evo Morales, which for the ruling party was a “coup d’état.”
He is currently facing the “coup d’état II” trial under accusations of breach of duties and resolutions against the Constitution for allegedly assuming the Presidency in an irregular manner, according to the Government and the ruling Movement for Socialism (MAS).
Instead, Áñez’s lawyers maintain that at the end of 2019 there was a power vacuum due to the resignation of the entire line of succession and that his arrival at the Presidency adhered to the procedures of the Constitution.
The Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Government have requested a sentence of 15 years in prison against the former interim head of state.
Source: Elcomercio
I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.
