Evo Morales Accuses President Luis Arce of Sinking Bolivia’s Economy

Evo Morales Voices Concerns

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales expressed on Sunday that current President Luis Arce is "economically sinking the country" and suggested that a "summit" should be held to find solutions to this situation.

"Unfortunately, he is sinking the country. At one point, we reviewed economic data, issues related to fuel, trade deficits, and the balance of trade," Morales stated during a program on the radio station Kawsachun Coca.

He added that the economy is "not in good shape" in the country and that there is insufficient money to pay "fuel importers," leading to long queues at gas stations, even though the government dismissed claims of diesel scarcity earlier in the week.

Facing the Truth

Morales emphasized that "lies do not last" and that it's better to acknowledge the problem to "help resolve it." He recalled suggesting a national summit to "address the economic situation" collectively but noted that it had not been convened yet. The former president pointed out a reduction in exports and a rapid increase in public debt. Morales also criticized "corruption" and economic Growth Amid the Challenged "cover-ups of drug trafficking" in the Arce government, asserting that it does not take appropriate action in this regard.

Economic Growth Amid Challenges

This week, the Bolivian government reported that the country achieved an economic growth rate of 2.21% in the second quarter of 2023 despite "negative external demand," emphasizing that Bolivia remains on a "growth path."

Bolivia's exports saw a 24% decline during the first seven months of 2023 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the private Bolivian Institute of Foreign Trade.

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Internal Party Tensions

Arce and Morales have been at odds amid internal tensions within the ruling party that began at the end of 2021 when the former president requested changes to some ministers, which the president ignored.

Tensions between the two escalated when Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca declined to attend a congress of the Movement for Socialism in the Cochabamba tropics, Morales' political and union stronghold, where they proclaimed the former president as the presidential candidate for the 2025 elections.

Morales' faction perceived the absence of Arce and Choquehuanca as a "self-expulsion" from the party.