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Elections", "retrieved": "2020-11-25T04:03:34.292186", "id": "IN11198_16_2020-10-13", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2020-10-13_IN11198_5809bda573103a471012daf5185e85454bb0625f.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11198/16", "sha1": "5809bda573103a471012daf5185e85454bb0625f" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2020-10-13_IN11198_5809bda573103a471012daf5185e85454bb0625f.html" } ], "date": "2020-10-13", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "IN", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=IN11198", "type": "CRS Insight" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Bolivia\u2019s October 2020 General Elections", "retrieved": "2020-11-25T04:03:34.291050", "id": "IN11198_14_2020-10-07", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2020-10-07_IN11198_8639dbbec8cf98f7c4dbb8d73101a53b28607402.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": 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null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "IN", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=IN11198", "type": "CRS Insight" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Bolivia\u2019s October 2020 General Elections", "retrieved": "2020-11-25T04:03:34.289833", "id": "IN11198_12_2020-07-21", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2020-07-21_IN11198_b125d54aacc432c75b258bd81ac8fcce183856f7.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11198/12", "sha1": "b125d54aacc432c75b258bd81ac8fcce183856f7" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2020-07-21_IN11198_b125d54aacc432c75b258bd81ac8fcce183856f7.html" } ], "date": "2020-07-21", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "IN", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=IN11198", "type": "CRS Insight" }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Bolivia\u2019s October 2020 General Elections", "retrieved": "2020-11-25T04:03:34.288701", "id": "IN11198_10_2020-06-16", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2020-06-16_IN11198_3ab0dcd73f2f56f639c247d2a2038dc76b2fa811.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11198/10", "sha1": "3ab0dcd73f2f56f639c247d2a2038dc76b2fa811" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2020-06-16_IN11198_3ab0dcd73f2f56f639c247d2a2038dc76b2fa811.html" } ], "date": "2020-06-16", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "IN", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=IN11198", "type": "CRS Insight" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 620986, "date": "2020-03-24", "retrieved": "2020-03-26T22:06:23.228496", "title": "Bolivia Postpones May Elections Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak", "summary": "On March 22, 2020, Bolivia\u2019s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) suspended preparations for national elections scheduled for May 3 following Interim President Jeanette A\u00f1ez\u2019s declaration of a two-week national quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Bolivia remains extremely polarized following annulled October 2019 elections alleged to be marred by fraud and the November resignation of President Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Morales\u2019s former finance minister Luis Arce had been leading the polls. According to the TSE, the MAS-led Congress may need to enact legislation to select a new election date.\nThe United States remains concerned about the political volatility in Bolivia. The Trump Administration and Congress have supported efforts to ensure the elections are free and fair. \nOctober Elections Annulled\nMorales, Bolivia\u2019s first indigenous president, transformed Bolivia, but observers criticized his effort to remain in office (he won elections in 2006, 2009, and 2014). In 2017, Bolivia\u2019s Constitutional Tribunal removed limits on reelection established in the 2009 constitution, effectively overruling a 2016 referendum in which voters rejected a constitutional change to allow Morales to run for another term. \nFigure 1. Bolivia at a Glance\n/\nSources: CRS Graphics, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edsticas (INE), Global Trade Atlas (GTA).\nAllegations of fraud marred Bolivia\u2019s October election. The TSE said Morales exceeded the 10-point margin he needed to avoid a runoff over former president Carlos Mesa, but Mesa rejected that result. Some protesters called for a new election; others demanded Morales\u2019s resignation. \nOn November 10, 2019, the Organization of American States (OAS) issued preliminary findings suggesting enough irregularities to merit a new election. Morales agreed to hold new elections, but the opposition rejected his offer. Morales resigned after police refused to stop protesters, ministers resigned, and civic organizations, unions, and the military urged him to step down. He sought asylum in Mexico and then Argentina. On November 23, 2019, the Congress unanimously passed an electoral law to annul the October elections and select a new electoral tribunal. In December 2019, the final OAS audit report of the October election found \u201cintentional manipulation\u201d of the results. \nInterim Government\nInterim President A\u00f1ez, formerly a little-known opposition senator from Beni, became president following the resignation of three MAS officials ahead of her in the line of succession. A\u00f1ez\u2019s past anti-indigenous rhetoric and conservative cabinet raised concerns among some of Bolivia\u2019s indigenous population, which became empowered under Morales. The MAS-led Congress initially refused to accept A\u00f1ez\u2019s government and many MAS supporters protested. A\u00f1ez issued a decree giving the military authority to participate in crowd-control efforts and immunity from prosecution while doing so. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights documented 36 deaths and 400 injuries that occurred in mid-November 2019, including two massacres involving state forces. The government rejected those findings.\nAccording to Bolivia\u2019s constitution, the interim government has a mandate to convene new elections. Some observers have criticized A\u00f1ez for exceeding that mandate. Among other policy changes, Interim President A\u00f1ez reversed many MAS foreign policy positions. A\u00f1ez expelled Cuban officials, recognized Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaid\u00f3, and got into a diplomatic row with Spain and Mexico regarding their diplomatic protection of former MAS officials. Under A\u00f1ez, prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Morales on charges of terrorism and sedition and reportedly have pursued politically motivated cases against former MAS officials. \nThe interim government is now attempting to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. While Bolivia ranks in the middle for the region in terms of health security preparedness, the government reportedly lacks intensive care beds and ventilators. As of March 23, Bolivia had 27 confirmed cases of the virus. \nMay 2020 Elections: Candidates and Postponement\nAfter the Bolivian Congress passed an election law in November 2019, legislators appointed a new electoral tribunal. In January, that tribunal announced the first round election would occur on May 3, with a second-round presidential runoff, if needed, to occur on June 14.\nBolivia\u2019s Leading Presidential Candidates\nLuis Arce: economist, former minister of the economy from 2006 to 2019, who was generally praised by the International Monetary Fund\nJeanette A\u00f1ez: former senator and current interim president who abandoned an earlier pledge not to run\nLuis Camacho: lawyer and Catholic civic leader from the eastern state of Santa Cruz who led nationwide protests urging Morales\u2019s resignation\nCarlos Mesa: former journalist who served as president from 2003 to 2005 who has opposed the MAS, but has more moderate positions than A\u00f1ez and Camacho\n\nSource: Paola Nagovitch, \u201cExplainer: Presidential Candidates in Bolivia\u2019s 2020 Special Elections,\u201d Americas Society/Council of the Americas, February 6, 2020. \n\nAlthough protests in Bolivia died down in December 2019 after passage of the electoral law and A\u00f1ez\u2019s revocation of the military decree, they could resume if MAS supporters think A\u00f1ez is using the pandemic as a reason for her to remain in power. MAS reportedly did not participate in discussions with the TSE on the postponement of the elections. If the MAS is not involved in negotiations to set a new electoral timetable, the electoral process may not be perceived as free and fair.\nU.S. Concerns\nThe United States remains concerned about the political volatility in Bolivia, but its role in supporting a return to democracy may be limited. Bolivia-U.S. relations were tense following the 2008 ousting of the U.S. ambassador, and bilateral assistance to the country ended in 2013. \nThe State Department supported the OAS election observation and audit efforts. The United States and 25 other OAS countries issued a November statement rejecting violence and calling for new elections as soon as possible. A December 9 statement by Secretary of State Pompeo also called for a focus on convening new elections. Within the Western Hemisphere, consensus on Bolivia has eroded over the A\u00f1ez government\u2019s crackdown on protesters and efforts to punish Morales and his allies\u2014actions that some governments have criticized but U.S. officials have not. Following President Trump\u2019s January 2020 decision to waive foreign aid restrictions on Bolivia, U.S. support for electoral authorities and civil society groups has totaled some $3 million. \nThe situation in Bolivia has generated some concern in Congress. S.Res. 447, agreed to in the Senate in January 2020, supports the prompt convening of new elections.", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IN11198", "sha1": "9864b5cb06b1c6abe7ca199565cd6e69480c226d", "filename": "files/20200324_IN11198_9864b5cb06b1c6abe7ca199565cd6e69480c226d.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=IN/ASPX/IN11198_files&id=/0.png": "files/20200324_IN11198_images_a4aec75b0a139f2f3ecbe2550d5b3b66923ed331.png" } } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 612571, "date": "2020-01-07", "retrieved": "2020-01-07T23:14:28.649816", "title": "Bolivia: Presidential Resignation and Aftermath", "summary": "On November 10, 2019, Bolivia\u2019s Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party resigned his presidency and sought asylum in Mexico. He ultimately received refugee status in Argentina. Bolivia\u2019s military suggested Morales consider resigning to prevent violence after weeks of protests alleging fraud in the October 20, 2019, election. Three individuals in line to succeed Morales (the vice president and the presidents of the senate and the chamber of deputies) also resigned. Opposition Senator Jeanine A\u00f1ez, formerly second vice president of the senate, declared herself senate president and then interim president on November 12. Bolivia\u2019s constitutional court recognized her succession. Following protests and state violence, the MAS-led Congress unanimously approved an electoral law to annul the October elections and select a new electoral tribunal. On January 3, 2020, the tribunal announced those elections are scheduled for May 3, 2020.\nThe Trump Administration and Congress have expressed concerns regarding irregularities and manipulation in Bolivia\u2019s election and violence following the election and Morales\u2019s resignation. They support efforts to ensure the May elections are free and fair. \nOctober Elections Annulled\nMorales, Bolivia\u2019s first indigenous president, transformed Bolivia, but observers criticized his effort to remain in office beyond constitutionally mandated term limits (he won elections in 2006, 2009, and 2014). In 2017, Bolivia\u2019s Constitutional Tribunal removed limits on reelection established in the 2009 constitution, overruling a 2016 referendum in which voters rejected a constitutional change to allow Morales to serve another term. \nFigure 1. Bolivia at a Glance\n/\nSources: CRS Graphics, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edsticas (INE), Global Trade Atlas (GTA).\nIn January 2019, Morales began campaigning for a fourth term. Opposition candidates included former President Carlos Mesa (2003-2005), Senator Oscar Ortiz, and evangelical minister Chi Hyun Chung. \nAllegations of fraud marred Bolivia\u2019s October 2019 election. Morales needed to win by a 10-point margin to avoid a runoff. The country\u2019s electoral agency said Morales won narrowly over Mesa, but Mesa rejected that result. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) described irregularities in the process. Mesa called for protesters to demand a new election, while Luis Camacho, head of a civic committee from Santa Cruz, led national protests for Morales\u2019s resignation. On October 30, the Morales government agreed to have the OAS audit the election results and to convene a runoff election if recommended. Nevertheless, protests continued.\nOn November 10, 2019, the OAS issued preliminary findings suggesting serious manipulation of results and found enough irregularities to merit a new election. Morales agreed to hold new elections, but the opposition rejected his offer. Morales resigned after police refused to stop protesters, ministers resigned, and civic organizations, unions, and the military urged him to step down. The aforementioned November 23, 2019, electoral law annulled the October 20 presidential (and legislative) elections and reimposed term limits. The final OAS election audit report found \u201cserious irregularities\u201d and \u201cintentional manipulation\u201d that made the results impossible to validate.\nInterim Government and 2020 Elections\nAccording to Bolivia\u2019s constitution, the interim government has a mandate to convene new elections. Some observers have criticized Interim President A\u00f1ez, formerly a little-known opposition senator, for exceeding that mandate. A\u00f1ez\u2019s past anti-indigenous political rhetoric and conservative cabinet, with only one indigenous member, raised concerns among some of Bolivia\u2019s indigenous population, which became empowered under Morales. A\u00f1ez also reversed several MAS foreign policy stances. She expelled Cuban officials, recognized Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaid\u00f3, and got into a diplomatic row with Spain and Mexico regarding their diplomatic protection of former MAS officials.\nThe MAS-led Congress initially refused to accept A\u00f1ez\u2019s government, and many MAS supporters protested. A\u00f1ez issued a decree giving the military authority to participate in crowd-control efforts and immunity from certain prosecutions while doing so, as long as it respected human rights. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights issued a report documenting 36 deaths and 400 injuries that occurred from November 8 to November 27, 2019, including two massacres involving state forces. The interim government rejected those findings, accusing \u201csubversives\u201d of orchestrating the protests. Protests died down after passage of the electoral law and A\u00f1ez\u2019s November 24 revocation of the military decree, but they could escalate again, as prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Morales on charges of terrorism and sedition. \nObservers praised the November election law as a step toward new elections. A new electoral tribunal has been appointed and announced that the first round election will occur on May 3. A second-round presidential contest would occur, if needed, on June 14. A\u00f1ez and Morales are prohibited from running. Candidates include Carlos Mesa and Luis Camacho. The MAS candidate will be named soon. Bolivia\u2019s interim government has requested significant election-related assistance.\nU.S. Concerns\nThe United States remains concerned about the political volatility in Bolivia, but its role in supporting a return to democracy may be limited. Bolivia-U.S. relations were tense following the 2008 ousting of the U.S. ambassador, and bilateral assistance to the country ended in 2013. \nU.S. statements have sometimes mirrored those of the OAS General Secretariat and the European Union (the main donor in Bolivia) but also have praised the A\u00f1ez government, which the U.S. recognizes, for expelling Cuban officials and recognizing Venezuela\u2019s Guaid\u00f3 government. The State Department supported the OAS election observation and audit efforts. The United States and 25 other OAS countries issued a November statement rejecting violence and calling for new elections as soon as possible. A December 9 statement by Secretary of State Pompeo also called for a focus on convening new elections. Regional consensus has eroded over the A\u00f1ez government\u2019s crackdown on protesters and efforts to punish Morales and his allies. On December 18, 2019, the OAS Permanent Council narrowly approved a resolution rejecting \u201cracist violence\u201d in Bolivia. \nThe situation in Bolivia has generated some concern in Congress. S.Res. 447, reported by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2019, supports the prompt convening of new elections.", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IN11198", "sha1": "dfa03d7934e39b5bf69f961469435d038c189cdb", "filename": "files/20200107_IN11198_dfa03d7934e39b5bf69f961469435d038c189cdb.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=IN/ASPX/IN11198_files&id=/0.png": "files/20200107_IN11198_images_ceffab26390075ad70968c419f43d3fb57270fdb.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/IN11198", "sha1": "72da42270fdafdedcc96447468066cec15e44f82", "filename": "files/20200107_IN11198_72da42270fdafdedcc96447468066cec15e44f82.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 611865, "date": "2019-12-19", "retrieved": "2019-12-20T16:18:01.356926", "title": "Bolivia: Presidential Resignation and Aftermath", "summary": "On November 10, 2019, Bolivia\u2019s Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party resigned his presidency and sought asylum in Mexico. He ultimately received refugee status in Argentina. Bolivia\u2019s military had suggested Morales consider resigning to prevent violence after weeks of protests alleging fraud in the October 20, 2019, election. Three individuals in line to succeed Morales (the vice president and the presidents of the senate and the chamber of deputies) also resigned. Opposition Senator Jeanine A\u00f1ez, formerly second vice president of the senate, declared herself senate president and then interim president on November 12, 2019. Bolivia\u2019s constitutional court recognized her succession. After a period of protests and state violence, the MAS-led Congress unanimously approved a law to annul the October elections, select a new electoral tribunal, and have that tribunal convene new elections.\nThe Trump Administration and Congress have expressed concerns regarding irregularities and manipulation in Bolivia\u2019s election, violence following the election and Morales\u2019s resignation, and the expectation for the interim government to convene free and fair elections as soon as possible. \nOctober Elections Annulled\nMorales, Bolivia\u2019s first indigenous president, transformed Bolivia, but many observers expressed concerns as he sought to remain in office beyond constitutionally mandated term limits (he won elections in 2006, 2009, and 2014). In 2017, Bolivia\u2019s Constitutional Tribunal removed limits on reelection established in the 2009 constitution. The decision overruled a 2016 referendum in which voters rejected a constitutional change to allow Morales to serve another term. \nFigure 1. Bolivia at a Glance\n/\nSources: CRS Graphics, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edsticas (INE), Global Trade Atlas (GTA).\nIn January 2019, Morales began campaigning for a fourth term. Opposition candidates included former President Carlos Mesa (2003-2005); Senator Oscar Ortiz; and Chi Hyun Chung, an evangelical minister. Morales needed to win by a 10-point margin in the first round to avoid a second-round runoff. \nAllegations of fraud marred Bolivia\u2019s first-round election in October 2019. The country\u2019s electoral agency said Morales won a narrow victory over Mesa, but Mesa rejected that result. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) described irregularities in the process. Mesa called for protesters to demand a new election, while Luis Camacho, head of a civic committee from Santa Cruz, led a nationwide push for Morales\u2019s resignation. On October 30, the Morales government agreed to have the OAS audit the election results and to convene a runoff election if recommended. Nevertheless, protests continued.\nOn November 10, 2019, the OAS issued preliminary findings suggesting serious manipulation of results and found that enough irregularities occurred to merit a new election. Morales agreed to hold new elections, but the opposition rejected his offer. Morales resigned after police refused to put down protesters; ministers resigned; and civic organizations, unions, and the military urged him to step down. A November 23, 2019, electoral law annulled the October 20 presidential (and legislative) elections and reimposed term limits that prohibit Morales from running in 2020. The final OAS election audit report found \u201cserious irregularities\u201d and \u201cintentional manipulation\u201d that made the results impossible to validate.\nInterim Government and 2020 Elections\nAccording to the Bolivian constitution, the interim government has a mandate to convene new elections. Some observers have criticized Interim President A\u00f1ez, formerly a little-known opposition senator, for exceeding that mandate. A\u00f1ez\u2019s past anti-indigenous political rhetoric and conservative cabinet, which has only one indigenous member, raised concerns among some of Bolivia\u2019s indigenous population, which became empowered under Morales. A\u00f1ez also reversed several MAS foreign policy stances; she expelled Cuban officials (including doctors), recognized Interim President Juan Guaid\u00f3 of Venezuela, and sent an ambassador to the United States.\nThe MAS-led Congress initially refused to accept A\u00f1ez\u2019s government, and many MAS supporters protested. A\u00f1ez issued a decree giving the military permission to participate in crowd-control efforts and immunity from certain prosecutions for doing so, as long as it used only proportional force and respected human rights. The Inter-American Commission of Human Rights issued a report documenting 36 deaths and 400 injuries that occurred from November 8 to November 27, 2019, including two massacres involving state forces. The interim government rejected those findings, accusing \u201csubversives\u201d of orchestrating the protests. Protests died down after passage of the November 23 electoral law and A\u00f1ez\u2019s November 24 revocation of the military decree, but they could escalate again, as prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Morales on charges of terrorism and sedition.\nObservers praised the November election law as a step toward new elections. A new electoral tribunal is in the process of being appointed. The electoral body has 120 days to convene a first-round election, followed by a second round if necessary. Likely candidates include Carlos Mesa and Luis Camacho, but it remains unclear who will stand for the MAS. Bolivia\u2019s interim government has requested significant election-related assistance.\nU.S. Concerns\nThe United States remains concerned about the political volatility in Bolivia, but its role in supporting a return to democracy may be limited. Bolivia-U.S. relations were tense following the 2008 ousting of the U.S. ambassador, and bilateral assistance to the country ended in 2013, after Bolivia expelled a U.S. Agency for International Development mission. \nU.S. statements have sometimes mirrored those of the OAS General Secretariat and the European Union (the main donor in Bolivia) but also have praised the A\u00f1ez government, which the U.S. recognizes, for expelling Cuban officials and recognizing Venezuela\u2019s Guaid\u00f3 government. The Department of State supported the OAS election observation and audit efforts. The United States and 25 other countries issued a November statement to the OAS rejecting violence and calling for new elections as soon as possible. A December 9 statement by Secretary of State Pompeo also called for a focus on convening new elections. Regional consensus has eroded somewhat over the A\u00f1ez government\u2019s crackdown on protesters and efforts to punish Morales and his allies. On December 18, 2019, the OAS Permanent Council narrowly approved a resolution rejecting \u201cracist violence\u201d in Bolivia. \nThe situation in Bolivia has generated some concern in Congress. S.Res. 447, reported by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2019, supports the prompt convening of new elections.", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IN11198", "sha1": "e5a5bc347b7d3d7196681cd57f2e6023e19f0538", "filename": "files/20191219_IN11198_e5a5bc347b7d3d7196681cd57f2e6023e19f0538.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=IN/ASPX/IN11198_files&id=/0.png": "files/20191219_IN11198_images_f86286e73a7e2c0ff88b57c1720745548423dadb.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/IN11198", "sha1": "8db8617a3ecb264e64f2de76138f048eca85be93", "filename": "files/20191219_IN11198_8db8617a3ecb264e64f2de76138f048eca85be93.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 607730, "date": "2019-11-14", "retrieved": "2019-12-13T15:24:04.962037", "title": "Bolivia: Presidential Resignation and Aftermath", "summary": "On November 10, 2019, Bolivian President Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party resigned and subsequently received asylum in Mexico. Bolivia\u2019s military had recommended that Morales step down to prevent an escalation of violence after weeks of protests alleging fraud in the October 20, 2019, presidential election. While Morales has described his ouster as a \u201ccoup,\u201d the opposition has described it as a \u201cpopular uprising\u201d against an authoritarian leader. The three individuals in line to succeed Morales (the vice president and the presidents of the senate and the chamber of deputies) also resigned. Opposition Senator Jeanine A\u00f1ez, formerly second vice president of the senate, declared herself senate president and then assumed the position of interim president on November 12, 2019; MAS legislators do not recognize her authority.\nThe U.S. Department of State supported the findings of an Organization of American States (OAS) audit that found enough irregularities in the October elections to recommend a new election. President Trump praised Morales\u2019s resignation. State Department officials have called for all parties to refrain from violence and issued a travel warning for Bolivia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo applauded A\u00f1ez for stepping up as interim president. Congressional concern about Bolivia has increased. S.Res. 35, approved in April 2019, expresses concern over Morales\u2019s efforts to circumvent term limits in Bolivia.\nMorales Government (2006-2019)\nMorales, Bolivia\u2019s first indigenous leader, had governed since 2006 as head of the MAS party. With two-thirds majorities in both legislative chambers, Morales and the MAS transformed Bolivia (see CRS In Focus IF11325, Bolivia: An Overview). They decriminalized coca cultivation, increased state control over the economy, and used natural gas revenue to expand social programs. Morales and the MAS enacted a new constitution (2009) that recognizes indigenous peoples\u2019 rights and autonomy and allows for land reform. Previously underrepresented groups, including the indigenous peoples who constitute 40% of the population, increased their representation in government. Traditional Bolivian elites opposed these changes and have become leaders of the recent protests.\nAlthough Bolivia\u2019s economic performance has been strong under Morales, there has been an erosion of some democratic institutions and relations with the United States have deteriorated. Under Morales, annual economic growth averaged some 4.5% from 2006 to 2018 and poverty rates fell from 60% in 2006 to 34.6% in 2018. Governance standards have remained weak, especially those involving accountability, transparency, and separation of powers. The Morales government launched judicial proceedings against opposition politicians, dismissed judges, and restricted press freedom. Morales aligned his country with Hugo Ch\u00e1vez of Venezuela vis-\u00e0-vis the United States, and Bolivia-U.S. relations have remained tense since he expelled the U.S. ambassador in 2008. \nFigure 1. Bolivia at a Glance\n/\nSources: CRS Graphics, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Instituto Nacional de Estad\u00edsticas (INE), Global Trade Atlas (GTA).\nA Disputed Reelection\nMany observers expressed concerns about democracy in Bolivia as Morales sought to remain in office beyond his third term (he won reelection in 2009 and 2014). In 2017, Bolivia\u2019s Constitutional Tribunal removed constitutional limits on reelection established in the 2009 constitution. The decision overruled a 2016 referendum in which voters rejected a constitutional change to allow Morales to serve another term. Since then, periodic protests have occurred.\nIn January 2019, Morales won the MAS primary and began campaigning for a fourth term. Opposition candidates included former President Carlos Mesa (2003-2005) of the Civic Community Party; Oscar Ortiz, a senator from the \u201cBolivia Says No\u201d Party; and Chi Hyun Chung, an evangelical minister from the Christian Democratic Party. Morales needed to win by a 10-point margin in the first-round election to avoid a second-round runoff in mid-December against a potentially unified opposition. \nBolivia\u2019s first-round election in October 2019 was marred by allegations of fraud in the vote tabulation. The country\u2019s electoral agency said Morales won a narrow first-round victory, but opposition candidate Mesa rejected that result and OAS election observers described irregularities in the process. Mesa and other opposition leaders called for protesters to demand a new election and then urged them to push for Morales\u2019s resignation. On October 30, the Morales government agreed to have the OAS audit the election results and to participate in a runoff election if recommended by the audit. Nevertheless, protests turned increasingly violent, with at least three individuals killed and hundreds injured.\nOn November 10, 2019, the OAS issued the preliminary findings of its electoral audit, which concluded that enough irregularities occurred in the elections to merit a new election. Morales agreed to hold new elections, but his offer did not satisfy the opposition. After a police mutiny, clashes between Morales supporters and the opposition, and an army declaration urging him to step down, Morales resigned and sought asylum in Mexico.\nA Constitutional Way Forward?\nAccording to the Bolivian constitution, the national assembly of Bolivia must achieve a quorum to accept Morales\u2019s resignation and name an interim government. That interim government would then have 90 days to convene new elections. The MAS-dominated legislature has thus far boycotted legislative sessions. Although the MAS has rejected these developments, A\u00f1ez declared herself senate president and then assumed the role of interim president. Bolivia\u2019s constitutional court declared those actions constitutional. She has named a Cabinet and received some diplomatic recognition. With protesters rejecting her government, the path forward remains unclear.\nU.S. Concerns\nThe United States remains concerned about the political vacuum in Bolivia, but its role in supporting stability and a return to democracy likely will be limited. Bolivia-U.S. relations have remained tense following the 2008 ousting of the U.S. ambassador, and bilateral assistance to the country ended in 2013, after Bolivia expelled the U.S. Agency for International Development. \nFollowing the election in Bolivia, U.S. statements have largely mirrored those of the OAS General Secretariat and the European Union (the main donor in Bolivia). On November 12, 2019, the United States and 14 other countries issued a statement rejecting violence, calling for a constitutional solution to the crisis, and urging the designation of a provisional president to call new elections as soon as possible. Regional consensus on Bolivia may erode over whether to recognize A\u00f1ez as interim president.", "type": "CRS Insight", "typeId": "INSIGHTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/IN11198", "sha1": "93010ba7a33bd29477b04baa13552e29a8f36902", "filename": "files/20191114_IN11198_93010ba7a33bd29477b04baa13552e29a8f36902.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=IN/ASPX/IN11198_files&id=/0.png": "files/20191114_IN11198_images_a2df653cc5e795cf45c17e02d41cf06af14d2e2a.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "https://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/IN11198", "sha1": "b3f6c2e460b0d88ea218b9a0eefe8eee834fb089", "filename": "files/20191114_IN11198_b3f6c2e460b0d88ea218b9a0eefe8eee834fb089.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4847, "name": "Latin America, Caribbean, & Canada" } ] }, { "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "title": "Bolivia\u2019s October 2020 General Elections", "retrieved": "2020-11-25T04:03:34.282913", "id": "IN11198_1_2019-11-12", "formats": [ { "filename": "files/2019-11-12_IN11198_cb16c7abbdbe405dbec63076e7a0770bf92151a1.pdf", "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11198/1", "sha1": "cb16c7abbdbe405dbec63076e7a0770bf92151a1" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2019-11-12_IN11198_cb16c7abbdbe405dbec63076e7a0770bf92151a1.html" } ], "date": "2019-11-12", "summary": null, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "typeId": "IN", "active": true, "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=IN11198", "type": "CRS Insight" } ], "topics": [ "Latin American Affairs" ] }