Evo Morales steps down: Reaction from Latin America and beyond – Al Jazeera English

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Evo Morales has stepped down as Bolivia‘s president after the military encouraged him to leave the post to ensure stability following weeks of protests against his disputed re-election.

In a televised address on Sunday, Latin America’s longest-serving leader, said he was resigning for the “good of the country”.

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“I want to tell you, brothers and sisters, that the fight does not end here,” Morales said from his stronghold in the Chapare region in central Bolivia.

“We will continue this fight for equality, for peace,” the 60-year-old added, who has said he is the victim of a “coup”.

Following his statement, Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera also said he was resigning.

The announcements prompted celebrations but there were also reports of violent unrest erupting in the administrative capital, La Paz, in the city of El Alto and other parts of the country.

Morales said his house in Cochabamba was attacked by “violent groups” and, on Twitter, accused police of issuing an “illegal” warrant for his arrest.

Bolivia’s police chief denied the claim in a television interview on Sunday, while the military said in a statement that it was launching air and land operations to “neutralise” groups acting unlawfully.

The resignation of the last survivor of the so-called “pink tide”, which ushered in leftist governments in Latin America two decades ago, prompted reaction across the region and beyond.

Here’s a round-up of international responses to the latest developments.

United Nations

Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, expressed deep concern about the situation in Bolivia, according to his spokesman.

Stephane Dujarric said the UN chief “urges all relevant parties to refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint.”

Mexico

Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard described the events in Bolivia as “an ongoing military operation”.

“It was similar to those tragic events that gripped our Latin American [continent] last century,” said Ebrard, who assumed his role after a leftist party won Mexico‘s election in July last year.

“Mexico will maintain its position of respect for democracy and institutions.”

Ebrard added that Mexico had already received 20 members “of the Bolivian executive and legislative in its official residence in La Paz,” adding that his country would offer Morales asylum if he sought it.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua’s leftist government also came to Morales’s defence, issuing a statement that decried the situation as a “coup”.

“The government of Nicaragua … denounces and strongly condemns the coup d’etat that was realised today,” President Daniel Ortega said in a statement.

“We reiterate our firm and unchanging support for President Evo, his constitutional government,” Nicaragua’s vice president and first lady, Rosario Murillo, said in a statement.

Chile

In Chile, the right-leaning government expressed concern about Bolivia’s interrupted electoral process.

It also called for a prompt peaceful and democratic solution within the framework of the Constitution.

Argentina

Argentina’s foreign ministry endorsed a report by the Organization of American States (OAS), which on Sunday recommended the holding of new elections, and expressed that if new polls were to be held they should be carried out “with all guarantees of freedom and transparency”.

Meanwhile, Argentina‘s President-elect Alberto Fernandez, who will assume the role in December, said a “coup” had been carried out in Bolivia.

“It was a coup perpetrated against the president who had called for a new electoral process.”

“We, defenders of democratic institutions, repudiate the unleashed violence that prevented Evo Morales conclude his presidential term, and altered the course of the electoral process,” he added.

Venezuela

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro also condemned what he described as a “coup” against Morales, adding that rallies would be held to defend “the life of the Bolivian native people, victims of racism”.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Juan Guaido said the continent was feeling “the democratic hurricane in Latin America”.

“Long live Bolivia, the favourite daughter of the liberator [Simon Bolivar].”

Peru

In Peru, the government called for the restoration of “peaceful existence in Bolivia”.

It also called for “transparent elections” with the help of the OAS.  

Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused Bolivia’s right of launching a “violent and cowardly coup d’etat”.

He also called on the international community to mobilise to defend Morales’s life and freedom.

Colombia

For its part, the Colombian foreign ministry issued a statement calling for the mobilisation of the international community for “a process of peaceful transition”.

The centre-right government also requested an urgent meeting of the OAS’s permanent council to discuss the events.

Brazil

Brazil‘s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro said in a post on Twitter that Morales’s resignation was the culmination of “denunciations” of “fraud allegations”.

“The lesson for us is the need, in the name of democracy and transparency, to count votes that can be audited. The VOTE is a sign of clarity for Brazil!”

Meanwhile, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva denounced a “coup” and said Morales “was forced to resign.”

“It is unfortunate that Latin America has an economic elite that does not know how to live with democracy. And the social inclusion of the poorest,” he added.

Russia 

In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry called on all political forces to “show common sense,” while it encouraged them to act responsibly. 

It also accused Bolivia’s opposition of unleashing a wave of violence in the country.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Jeremy Corbyn, head of the main opposition Labour Party, also labelled Morales’ resignation a “coup”.

European Union 

Federica Mogherini, European Union’s foreign policy chief has urged restraint and responsibility from all parties in the country, while she asked them to “lead the country peacefully and quietly to new credible elections.”


SOURCE:
Al Jazeera News


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