Former Bolivian President Evo Morales recently stated that his car was fired upon in what he described as an assassination attempt, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in the South American nation.
Morales, who escaped unharmed, accused the government of orchestrating the attack, labeling it as a 'failure' that further undermines the legitimacy of the current administration in the eyes of the Bolivian people. The government, however, denied any involvement and initiated an investigation into the incident.
According to Morales, the attack occurred as he was en route to a radio station in Cochabamba, where he hosts a weekend program. He recounted that his car was intercepted by two vehicles, from which four hooded individuals armed with weapons emerged and began shooting. The vehicle sustained fourteen bullet impacts, resulting in injuries to his driver.
Footage shared by Morales on social media purportedly captures the aftermath of the attack, showing the driver's injuries and the bullet-riddled windshield. Morales, visibly shaken, is seen in the passenger seat as they hastily drive away from the scene.
Following the incident, Morales' political party, Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), issued a statement attributing the attack to President Luis Arce and two government ministers, although no concrete evidence was provided to support this claim.
President Arce, in response, condemned political violence and ordered a thorough investigation into the alleged assassination attempt. Bolivia's Deputy Security Minister also pledged to investigate the incident, including the possibility of it being a staged 'self-attack' by Morales.
The power struggle between Morales and Arce, both members of MAS, has intensified as they vie for political dominance amidst economic challenges in Bolivia. Recent blockades by Morales' supporters have exacerbated food and fuel shortages in some areas, following a judicial investigation into Morales for alleged human trafficking, which he denies and attributes to political persecution.
The political unrest in Bolivia escalated further with the arrest of a general accused of plotting a coup against the government, underscoring the volatile situation in the country.
