Former Bolivian President Evo Morales alleged that shots were fired at his vehicle in an attempted assassination on Sunday, amid escalating political tensions within the ruling socialist party factions, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Morales finds himself in a power struggle with his former economy minister and current President, Luis Arce, ahead of the upcoming elections next year. During a radio interview, Morales recounted that two vehicles intercepted him on the road and opened fire, with a bullet narrowly missing his head. He expressed uncertainty about whether the attackers were military or police, stating, “This was planned. The idea was to kill Evo.”
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Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, shared a video on Facebook recorded from inside his car, showing him in the front passenger seat with at least two bullet holes in the windscreen. The driver appeared injured but continued to drive, as shown in the video, according to Al Jazeera.
Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios stated that the government would investigate the incident involving Morales, asserting that police “have not executed any operation” against him. “As authorities in charge of state security, we are obliged to investigate any report, whether it is true or false,” Rios added.
This incident occurs amid rising political tensions, with Morales’ supporters blocking highways in central Bolivia and clashing with security forces attempting to clear them. The unrest exacerbates an already fragile situation in a nation grappling with economic challenges. Earlier on Saturday, the government accused Morales of “destabilising” the country with road blockades that have disrupted food and fuel supplies, alleging he was trying to “interrupt democratic order,” according to Al Jazeera.
The Bolivian government further claimed that some groups aligned with Morales were armed, warning of potential violence, noting that 14 police officers were injured during confrontations while breaking up the blockades. The government stated that over 1,700 police were deployed to dismantle the blockades, resulting in the arrest of at least 44 protesters on Friday, with 14 police officers injured in the process.
Morales, 65, who served as President from 2006 to 2019, is the main rival of 61-year-old Arce. Although both leaders belong to the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, their relationship has soured over the past year amid the power struggle leading up to the 2025 presidential elections, as reported by Al Jazeera.
