In recent months, the former president accused the Ministers of Government (Interior), Eduardo del Castillo, and Justice, Iván Lima, of leading political actions against him and of trying to involve him in corruption cases.
In his recent statement he added the Minister of the Presidency María Nela Prada, Arce’s right arm, to the list of opponents.
The internal fight in the ruling party has as a backdrop who will finally be the candidate for the MAS: either Morales or Arce. The president, in power since November 2020, said that the issue of his re-election is not on the agenda yet.
In Bolivia, it is being discussed whether or not Morales is qualified to be a candidate again.
The Magna Carta says that the presidential term is five years and that there can be re-election only once on a continuous basis.
Minister Lima indicated that the Constitutional Court must decide if there can only be a single re-election or, as Morales interprets, a former head of state is allowed a new candidacy if at least one presidential term elapses.
The government has not commented on Morales’ decision.
On Saturday, the statement was made known by Public Works Minister Edgar Montaño, a former Morales ally for whom the former president’s entourage is motivated by “lust for power.”
“Many of those who have always been in power now surround comrade Evo and those are surely bringing him lying, misleading information,” he said.
“You have to stay away from those people, because otherwise you will be taking our political instrument to the grave,” the MAS, Montaño asked Morales.
Among Morales’ closest collaborators are the former Ministers of Government, Carlos Romero, and of the Presidency, Juan Ramón Quintana.