Bolivia

An impasse in Congress has prevented the call for judicial elections in Bolivia, which means that incumbent officials serving on the Supreme Tribunal, Constitutional Tribunal, Agro-environmental Tribunal and Magistrate’s Council will remain in place for now.  Without the two thirds majority needed and amid internal divisions within the MAS party, movement remains stalled.  Critics of the 2017 amendment, which brought in the use of elections for judicial posts, consider it has not contributed to improving the legitimacy of the judicial branch, as low voter-turnout (as seen in previous elections) and corruption in the judiciary prevail. 

Political Party Judiciary Evo Morales Luis Arce

Bolivian courts ratified the ten-year prison sentence that last year was handed to Jeanine Añez, former interim President, for crimes related to dereliction of duty. Añez stated she will appeal and accused the ruling party Movement for Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo, MAS) of retaliation for the aftermath of the 2019 presidential elections. In 2019, irregularities were denounced following the presidential elections and were followed by protests that resulted in violence and fatalities, leading to Evo Morales’s resignation and flight from the country. Ms Añez then assumed the presidency without following constitutional procedure, a measure she defends as needed in face of a legal vacuum regarding the presidential succession (as MAS politicians in line of succession had also resigned). She was further object of criticism after her government accused Evo Morales of sedition and terrorism, charges that she is currently facing as well. 

Judiciary Accountability

Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of the Santa Cruz region and a notable opposition leader, was arrested and charged with terrorism for his alleged involvement in toppling Evo Morales’s government. Camacho, a right-wing politician, took prominent part in the protests against the results of the 2019 elections, which experienced major irregularities and which resulted in Morales stepping down. The charges come after Camacho led strikes to protest the Bolivian government’s decision to postpone a population and housing census because of technical and Covid-19 concerns. In this context, tensions and conflict have been rising between pro-government protesters and those aligned with the opposition in the Santa Cruz department. The latter implemented the strikes aimed at pressuring the central government to hold said census in a shorter timeframe, given that its results impact the distribution of resources and political representation in congress. They have also organized demonstrations against Camacho’s arrest. After confrontation with police, 28 protesters were detained.

Protests