Bolivia’s Electoral Crisis Deepens as Court Revives Morales’ Controversial Presidential Bid

A La Paz court reignited Bolivia’s political tensions by reinstating a banned party’s legal status, enabling former President Evo Morales’ fourth presidential run despite constitutional term limits.

The Fourth Constitutional Chamber of La Paz’s Departmental Court ruled on May 26, 2025, that the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) improperly revoked the Bolivian National Action Party’s (PAN-BOL) registration, citing procedural flaws in its May 2025 decision.

PAN-BOL leader Ruth Nina declared the ruling a victory, confirming Morales and Wilma Alanoca as presidential candidates. Morales, president from 2006 to 2019, faces a binding 2023 Constitutional Court decision limiting leaders to two terms.

The court clarified that discontinuous terms—returning after a hiatus—remain prohibited. This conflicts with Morales’ claim that his 2019 resignation reset term counts. The TSE maintains candidate registration closed on May 19, leaving Morales’ eligibility in limbo.

The crisis stems from a fractured ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party. Morales and current President Luis Arce, once allies, now lead rival factions.

Arce’s administration nominated Interior Minister Eduardo del Castillo, distancing itself from Morales’ polarizing comeback attempt. Analysts warn the judicial-electoral clash risks destabilizing Bolivia’s democracy, already strained by 7.26% inflation and dollar shortages.

PAN-BOL argues it digitally submitted candidate documents before deadlines, but the TSE claims only legally recognized parties could access its portal.

Bolivia’s Electoral Crisis Deepens as Court Upholds Morales Ban

The court’s retroactive validation of PAN-BOL’s status complicates electoral timelines, with final candidate lists due June 6. Morales’ rural base threatens protests, echoing 2019’s violent unrest following his disputed election win.

The Constitutional Court’s 2023 ruling, reaffirmed in May 2025, blocks Morales’ path. Legal experts note Bolivia’s 2009 constitution originally barred third terms, but Morales exploited a 2017 court ruling to bypass term limits until voters rejected the move in a 2016 referendum.

His current bid tests institutional resilience amid economic turmoil and MAS infighting. International observers monitor whether the TSE enforces deadlines or yields to judicial pressure.

With general elections set for August 17, Bolivia’s stability hinges on resolving this constitutional standoff transparently. The outcome could redefine power dynamics in a nation where 40% of exports rely on Morales’ stronghold regions.

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