The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Bolivia recognized Grover García as the president of the ruling party MAS, stripping Evo Morales of his leadership after 25 years amidst a political dispute with the current president, Luis Arce.
The decision was made after a congress organized by MAS supporters in the city of El Alto, where Arce’s allies secured victory in the party’s leadership contest. The Constitutional Plurinational Tribunal only recognized the decision on November 14.
Evo Morales, who was ousted in a coup in 2019, criticized the decision as a political maneuver and accused it of being a “political genocide.” García celebrated the Electoral Court’s decision, stating that the party’s leadership is now back in the hands of social organizations.
The internal power struggle within MAS reflects the upcoming presidential candidacy for 2025. Morales, now the main opposition figure, began criticizing Arce’s decisions and vying for the party’s nomination in the next presidential elections. Tensions escalated further after Morales organized a congress in Cochabamba, resulting in Arce being expelled from the party.