Evo Morales arrives as a refugee in Argentina

One of the first political demonstrations of the government of Álvaro Fernández in Argentina was the reception of the Bolivian ex-president, who arrived last Thursday and confirmed it through his Twitter account.

Since November 12, Morales was in Mexico, which received him after his resignation from the presidency for what he called a coup d'etat on the right. Before his departure to Argentina, the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, affirmed that Morales had left for Argentina but “not forever”. AMLO reiterated the good relations that both countries have built and said that "the doors were open for Evo and for all the social fighters in the world, honoring what our foreign policy has done, which has been exemplary in granting asylum to persecuted politicians." 

Likewise, Evo Morales thanked López Obrador for receiving him and the entire Mexican people, ensuring that the “sister country saved our lives” because, after the resignation of the presidency, he was “sad and broken”.

According to the BBC, the new Argentine Foreign Minister, Felipe Solá, about Morales' arrival in the country, said he arrived "to stay and stay as a refugee", so the stay in Argentina is expected to be more lasting than that of Mexico.

It seems hardly logical that Morales would prefer to be in a country close to his during his exile, in addition to that in Argentina he meets his children, who had arrived there since the end of November while his father was in Mexico as an asylee. However, the reason for his proximity to Bolivia could have a somewhat more political character, taking into account that just a few days ago, on Saturday, December 7, his party, MAS, appointed him as campaign manager for the elections to be held in 2020.

Also read: Evo Morales will be part of the 2020 elections

The MAS movement, party of the political leader, met in a National Congress to talk about the political situation in Bolivia. Among the issues was the punishment of party members who acted against the union of the movement and the need to find unity for the next elections. But in addition, the members voted for Evo Morales to be part of the presidential elections as the campaign leader, which would imply that he made politics from exile.

A highly criticized shelter

Morales' decisions have been strongly criticized by the opposition, as happened when his role in the presidential campaign was announced. At that time, the opposition candidate, Carlos Mesa, said it was not right for a person like Morales, with so many accusations against him, to take such an important political role after the failure of the October elections.

The arrival in Argentina, therefore, caused great outrage in his opponents and in the de facto government of Bolivia, led by Jeanine Áñez. This government asked Argentina not to let Morales do politics from his country.

Bolivia's foreign minister, Karen Longaric, said during a press conference that she hopes that refugee conditions will be met in Argentina and will not allow her to do politics from there. He said they hope it does not happen as in Mexico, where Morales "had an open microphone or a lecture to do politics."

The Fernández government has a high degree of affinity with Morales' policies and left, so much so that the interim government of Bolivia was not invited to participate in the ceremony of possession of the Argentine president on December 10. However, Felipe Solá was emphatic in assuring the interim government of Bolivia that the refuge would be given on the condition that he does not issue statements of political dye. This would prevent Morales from playing the role of campaign manager from the neighboring Nation.

Meanwhile, the de facto government continues in the process to hold presidential elections in March 2020. On Thursday, December 12, Áñez announced the possession of several members of regional Electoral Courts.