The electoral tribunal in Bolivia, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), has announced that the country’s general elections originally scheduled for the second quarter of the year, will take place on September 6 following an agreement with the different political parties involved.
President of the tribunal, Salvador Romero, made this known while speaking to the press, where he revealed that the decided date will be set as soon as parliament signs it into law. Originally set for May 3 but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the elections are an attempt to steer the country towards political stability, after the first elections that took place in October 2019 was annulled
Tumultuous Elections for Bolivia
Prior to its annulment following an audit by the Organization of American States which revealed signs of rigging, the October 2019 general elections had been won by Evo Morales. However, following protests, violent demonstrations, a police mutiny, and pressure from the army to step down, Morales and other senior figures from his Movement for Socialism (MAS), resigned and fled the country. He was also barred from standing for president again or seeking reelection into the Senate.
Morales’ absence created room for the second vice-president of the senate at the time, Jeanine Áñez, to assume the interim presidency with a mandate to organize new elections.
Controversy Trails Áñez’s Temporary Government
Áñez’ time as interim president has been far from smooth with several cases of corruption have been brought up concerning her government. According to La Razon, there are currently 13 corruption cases involving her government, accumulating over a six-month period. There is also her decision to authorize the use of lethal force by the police and soldiers. A decree that was rescinded despite her backing.
In January, Áñez declared her own candidacy for president in the forthcoming elections despite speaking against the idea at the beginning of her temporary tenure.
Bolivia, a country of 11.5 million people, has recorded more than 10,500 coronavirus cases and 343 deaths. When the election was postponed in March, there had been just 19 confirmed cases.
