Jeremy Corbyn: Socialists Are Rebuilding Bolivia
In 2019, a right-wing coup deposed Bolivia’s elected government. But the people fought back — and now the socialist government they elected in its place is more popular than ever.
Bolivian president Luis Arce (L) and MAS party leader Evo Morales (R) honor the wiphala, a flag representing the indigenous Andean peoples, during an event in Cochabamba, Bolivia, October 12, 2021. (David Flores / Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
In the first year of the new government of Luis Arce and the Movement toward Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo, MAS) party, Bolivia has made significant progress in restoring the damage done to the country under the previous right-wing-coup regime led by Jeanine Áñez.
The 2019 coup, planned well in advance by right-wing opposition leaders and senior officers in the military, anticipated that long-term and consistently reelected president Evo Morales would win the presidential election.
Foreseeing the final result would hand Morales a clear first-round victory as votes from rural, indigenous-populated and Morales-supporting areas were counted, the right wing launched violent protests. These were unchecked by the police, who mutinied — first in Cochabamba and then elsewhere.
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