Bolivia to take OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro to court over 2019 crisis

Bolivia has announced its intention to file a lawsuit against Luis Almagro, the current Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), for his role in the 2019 electoral audit that sparked a political and social crisis.

The announcement was made by Bolivia’s ambassador to the OAS, Héctor Arce.

Almagro, in his capacity as Secretary General, endorsed an audit of the presidential elections won by former President Evo Morales.

The preliminary results of the audit, delivered on November 10, 2019, indicated irregularities, exacerbating the political and social situation in Bolivia.

The country experienced protests, street clashes, and police rebellion, leading to Morales’ resignation and the assumption of power by de facto President Jeanine Áñez.

According to Ambassador Arce, it has come to light that there were no established standards within the OAS for conducting audits like the one carried out in 2019.

He criticized the audit as biased, serving political interests aimed at destabilizing a progressive democracy rather than upholding electoral integrity.

During the current OAS Assembly in Washington, the Bolivian ambassador reiterated the country’s claim against Almagro, accusing him of being responsible for a constitutional rupture that resulted in the loss of 36 lives.

Bolivia continues to demand access to the audit reports, which have yet to be provided by the OAS.

The legal action against Almagro reflects Bolivia’s efforts to address the events of 2019 and seek accountability for the crisis that unfolded. The dispute raises questions about the conduct of the audit and its impact on Bolivian democracy.

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