Speaking on television by Bolivian President Evo Morales
LA PAZ … News Time
Bolivian President Evo Morales has resigned after three weeks of violent protests over withdrawal of support from the country’s army chief and police and a re-election dispute. According to a report by the French news agency AFP, left-wing Bolivian president Evo Morales made a speech on television saying, “I resign from my office, which has led to a nationwide celebration.”
Evo Morales is believed to be the longest-serving president of Latin America, whose resignation has created a vacuum of leadership. Following the announcement of the former president, the streets of Bolivia’s capital LA PAZ were filled with people celebrating and fireworks were also staged. Bolivians protesting against the president, as well as armed forces commanders and police were demanding the resignation of Evo Morales. In this regard, Army Chief Williams Kaliman told reporters that he too was demanding Evo Morales resign from the post of president to maintain peace and stability in Bolivia. Speaking on the matter, Carlos Diego Mesa, the opposition’s central candidate and former president, said Bolivian citizens have taught the world Bolivia will be a new country. Confusion had arisen over the abandonment of the president by ministers and senior officials with security agencies. Meanwhile, 20 lawmakers and government officials took shelter at the Mexican diplomat’s residence after Mexico announced the asylum of the former Bolivian president.
It is believed that Evo Morales belonged to the ancient community Aymara and he himself was a farmer who became Bolivia’s first local breed president. In his address, he highlighted his performance, which included extraordinary measures against hunger and poverty, and pushing the country’s economy up to 3 times over a 14-year period. Evo Morales received the fourth term of presidency in the October 20 presidential election when he was declared successful with a marginal margin. The opposition, however, said the deception in the counting of votes resulted in a three-week protest that left 3 people dead and hundreds injured. Later, the Organization of American States audited the elections, which revealed that irregularities were found in any aspect of the election whether it was the use of technology, counting of votes, ballot delivery or statistical estimates.
