Evo Morales leads massive march in favor of Arce

A massive march promoted and led by the former president Bolivian Evo Morales entered La Paz on Monday after a seven-day walk in support of leftist president Luis Arce, who a year after taking power is going through a bad time after tough opposition protests.

Arce led the column on a cold and rainy morning and walked alongside Morales (2006-2019) from the suburbs of this capital. The opposition has denounced that public officials reinforced the demonstration.

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The crowd entered tightly packed and without masks at a time when the country faces an outbreak of COVID-19 with new spikes in infections, 19,161 deaths and a stagnant vaccination in 54% of the target population. “We are going to bring La Paz to an unusual growth of infections”said the former Minister of Health, Aníbal Cruz.

The march started last week with no more than 4,500 people, but thousands more joined on Monday forming a column of several kilometers at the entrance to the city, which was collapsed. The ambassadors of Argentina and Nicaragua sympathized with the demonstration and accompanied the walk for a few kilometers in recent days.

The march led by the president of Bolivia, Luis Arce; Former president Evo Morales, other authorities and pro-government sectors arrived in La Paz this Monday after traveling more than 188 kilometers for seven days, to “defend” democracy and “support” the Government. (Photo: EFE / Martin Alipaz). (Martin Alipaz /)

“Here is your town, brother Lucho, here is the town that will defend you”Morales told Arce at the rally after the march. “Let them not provoke us (the opponents). This is a march for our democratic and cultural revolution, so that they let our brother rule ”.

“We feel supported, we feel strong. This march tells us that we are the majority. Our enemies tremble but they must respect democracy and the vote”Arce spoke at the closing of the meeting.

Named “March for democracy”Its promoters have denounced alleged preparations by the opposition to destabilize the government. The pro-government march seeks to demonstrate strength and unity after the anti-government protests of two weeks ago that forced the president to repeal disputed laws.

Former president Evo Morales, together with the social movements, greets during the “march for the homeland”, upon his arrival in La Paz. (Photo: EFE / Martin Alipaz). (Martin Alipaz /)

For more than two weeks, street vendors, transporters and small merchants staged protests across the country against a controversial law against illicit profits. The norm had been approved in August and imposed strong controls to prevent illicit money from infiltrating the legal market and allowed the intervention of the justice system with a single complaint. The informal sectors considered that it was an attack on “The heritage of the people” and was “Confiscation”. After the protests, Arce canceled it.

Members of social movements and government authorities participate in the “march for the homeland” upon arrival in La Paz. (Photo: EFE / Martin Alipaz). (Martin Alipaz /)

“This march is organized by Morales because he wants to return to the political arena. He is looking for his rehabilitation, it is not in favor of Arce”Said opposition deputy Luis Alberto Astorga. Other opposition leaders have asked the government “Focus on problems” the country and stop promoting demonstrations.

Morales is president of the ruling Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) – which controls the majority of the Legislative Assembly – and remains active in politics, which has led opponents to accuse him of influencing the Arce government.

After 14 years in power, the 62-year-old politician and the country’s first indigenous president resigned amid a social outbreak that left 37 dead in November 2019 after elections reported as fraudulent in which he was seeking a fourth consecutive term.

Government supporters walk during a march called “March for the Homeland” in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: AP / Juan Karita) (Juan Karita /)

Upon his return to the country, he regained control of the largest coca-growing union in Bolivia and has denounced that he was the victim of a coup d’état. More than fifty politicians, soldiers and police officers have been prosecuted and are imprisoned, among others, the former interim president who replaced Morales, Jeanine Áñez, prosecuted for sedition, terrorism and conspiracy. Opponents and organizations that defend human rights denounced a judicial persecution.

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