Former Bolivian President Arrested for Allegedly Fomenting Coup

Authorities arrested Bolivia’s former interim president, Jeanine Áñez Chavez, on March 13 for allegedly participating in a coup to oust her predecessor, Evo Morales. Authorities also issued arrest warrants for five ministers of Áñez’s former cabinet. Álvaro Coimbra (Justice) and Rodrigo Guzmán (Energy) have been apprehended, while Arturo Murillo (Government) and Luis Fernando López (Defense) fled to the United States. The whereabouts of Yerko Nuñez (Presidency) remain unclear.

The charges against Áñez relate to Bolivia’s 2019 election in which Morales, the country’s first Indigenous leader, sought a fourth term. Morales declared himself the winner, however, many Bolivians suspected election fraud had occurred (an audit from the Organization of American States agreed). Amid significant protests, many of Morales’ allies resigned, and Morales himself fled the country. The ensuing power vacuum left Áñez as interim president, a position she held until the following year when Luis Arce, an ally of Morales, won the new presidential election.

Movement Towards Socialism, along with Morales, (MAS) has argued that his removal resulted from a coup sponsored by conservative politicians. Morales has supported the recent arrests as a necessary reprisal.

Shortly before her apprehension, Áñez tweeted a picture of her arrest warrant on March 12 with the caption “The political persecution has begun.” Moreover, she remarked that the MAS party has pivoted towards dictatorial practices. Three days later, the judiciary sentenced her to four months detention until her trial, however, Áñez was hospitalized on March 17 after suffering a medical emergency in jail.

Áñez’s confinement prompted outrage from civilians and politicians alike. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, another right-wing leader, defended Áñez and called the charges against her “completely unfounded.” Bolivians responded to the arrests by taking to the streets in massive demonstrations. Tens of thousands of citizens in four cities marched to demand the release of the government officials.

Those who support the arrests claim that they responded to the allegations of corruption and human rights abuses by the interim government. Morales has signaled that this is the first step towards finding justice for the 36 people killed and 1,500 detained by security forces during protests that followed his resignation. Most Bolivian voters supported Morales’ MAS party in previous elections.

Political turmoil has plagued Bolivia since 2019, and this latest development may further divide the already deeply polarized country. In recent years, both sides have used the judicial system for political gains, raising concern from the Organization of American States that the courts have become political tools for the ruling party. Some experts also believe that the arrests were designed as a distraction from the current government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.