Bolivia’s Congress to vote on proposal for new elections – official

Agence France-Presse

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Bolivia’s Congress to vote on proposal for new elections – official

AFP

New elections are seen as crucial to ending Bolivia's worst political upheaval in 16 years

LA PAZ, Bolivia – Bolivia’s Congress will vote on a proposal Saturday, November 23, that could open the door to new elections in the crisis-hit country, as the caretaker government prepares to meet with protesters to end weeks of unrest.

At least 32 people have been killed in violence that erupted after a disputed election on October 20, with blockades causing severe fuel and food shortages in La Paz and other cities.

The Senate will vote on the proposed bill which was approved unanimously by an interparty commission overnight, the upper house announced early Saturday on its Twitter account.

If successful, the Senate will send the bill to the lower house for a second vote. Interim President Jeanine Anez will need to sign it before it can become law.

New elections are seen as crucial to ending Bolivia’s worst political upheaval in 16 years, which has deepened divisions between indigenous people loyal to ex-president Evo Morales and Bolivia’s mainly city-dwelling middle and upper classes. 

Morales, who had been seeking a 4th term, claimed he won last month’s election, but opposition groups said the vote count was rigged. 

An audit by the Washington-based Organization of American States found irregularities in the results.

The Senate vote comes a day after the caretaker government filed a criminal complaint accusing Morales of “sedition and terrorism” after he allegedly called on supporters to maintain blockades. 

If Morales – who fled to Mexico after resigning on November 10 – were charged and convicted, he would face a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail.

Morales, who claims to have been a victim of a coup after losing the support of the security forces, tweeted Friday – several hours before Interior Minister Arturo Murillo referred the case to federal prosecutors – that the investigation was based on “planted evidence and manipulated recordings.”

Two children of Morales – Evaliz Morales Alvarado and Alvaro Morales Peredo – left Bolivia on Saturday for Argentina after being given the green light by the interim government, Murillo tweeted.

Morales tweeted Saturday that Evaliz had been accused of “illicit enrichment,” which he said was a lie.

Right-wing senator Anez, who declared herself caretaker leader last week after Morales quit, on Friday called on anti-government protesters to “let us govern” and lift the road blocks.

In a potential breakthrough in the crisis, the government announced late Friday that it would meet with various opposition groups at the presidential palace on Saturday afternoon.

They hope to strike an agreement to “pacify the country,” Public Works Minister Yerko Nunez told reporters. 

It comes after police on Thursday tear-gassed indigenous protesters who marched on La Paz with the coffins of five of the eight people killed in clashes at a key fuel plant Tuesday. – Rappler.com

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