Left-wing Parliamentary Majority in Bolivia Blocks Defense Minister

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In Bolivia, a few weeks before the controversial new elections on May 3rd, there has been a tangible conflict between the de facto president Jeanine Áñez and the elected parliament.

Áñez, who declared herself to be President Evo Morales’ successor after a coup against him last November, has now been forced to suspend the appointment of a new Defense Minister after Parliament refused to grant Luis Fernando López his mandate.

Morales’ left-wing Movement for Socialism (MAS) has a solid two-thirds majority in Parliament. The MAS deputies summoned López three times to question him on alleged human rights violations by the army.

After the openly right-wing military officer excused himself for all three summonses, the parliamentary majority rejected his appointment.

On March 6th, Lopez was due to report to Parliament on the police-military operations which left hundreds injured and ten dead in the town of Sacaba in Cochabamba and at least eleven dead in the Senkata area of El Alto. The killings occurred as a result of fierce protests following the overthrow of Morales on November 10th.

At that time, the left-wing president was accused of having manipulated the counting of votes after the October 20th elections, in such a way that Morales, who undoubtedly had achieved a simple majority, could have avoided a run-off vote by gaining a 10% margin over his nearest challenger.

After the Organization of American States (OAS), which is closely linked to the US, confirmed the opposition’s accusations of fraud in controversial statements, the police and army rebelled, forcing Morales to flee into exile.

Meanwhile, the OAS’ account is being questioned internationally. Nevertheless, the police and army have repeatedly and violently suppressed protests by Morales’ supporters.

Before the new elections, the MAS seems determined to use its undiminished parliamentary power against the de facto government. Until March 13th, Communications Minister Isabel Fernández is to be questioned on increased repression against municipal radio stations.

The Minister of Public Works, Services and Housing, Iván Arias, will be questioned on the handling of the state airline Boliviana de Aviación and the telecommunications company Empresa de Telecomunicaciones (ENTEL). Sports Minister Milton Navarro is to be questioned on the organization of the so-called Plurinational Games.

Interior Minister Arturo Murillo, a right-wing hardliner who called for the hunt for MAS members following the coup, is also on Parliament’s list.

Áñez and her thwarted Defense Minister, López, fiercely opposed the blockade of Parliament and lamented a political campaign by the MAS. Nevertheless, the de facto president has suspended the appointment of her new Defense Minister.

“The appointment of Luis Fernando López as Defense Minister, as provided for in paragraph 1 of Presidential Decree 4141 of January 28th, 2020, will have no effect,” a subsequent decree to that end stated. Until further notice, Deputy Defense Minister Gastón Ramiro Peñaloza is to take office.

The fact that Áñez’s power is by no means stable is also shown by a decision made a few days ago. Barely four months after her self-proclamation, the coup leader changed the army leadership for the second time.

The supreme commander of the Bolivian armed forces is now Rubén Salvatierra Fuentes. He replaces Iván Patricio Inchausti Rioja, who was not sworn in until November 13th, 2019. Shortly afterwards, the government appointed six new ministers. One of them was López.