Evo Morales's defeat in a referendum that would see him change the Constitution to secure his fourth re-election in 2019 is good news for Bolivia and the culture of freedom. It fits into the democratic process that is undermining the foundations of demagogic populism in Latin America. Its important milestones include the victory of Mauricio Macri in Argentina over Ms. Kirchner's candidate; Rafael Correa's announcement that he will not run in the upcoming presidential elections in Ecuador; the crushing defeat (by 70% of the vote) of the Nicolas Maduro regime in the elections to the National Assembly of Venezuela and the growing discredit of Dilma Rousseff and her mentor, former President Lula, in Brazil due to economic failure and scandals around the oil company Petrobras, which also predict the failure of the Workers' Party in the next elections.

Unlike the populist governments of Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador and Brazil, whose demagogic policies led to the collapse of the economies in these countries, Evo Morales' economic policies were characterized as successful. But the statistics don't tell the whole story about Bolivia's incredibly favorable decade thanks to high commodity prices. But as soon as they began to fall, economic growth in the country stopped and it was rocked by corruption scandals.

This partly explains the sharp decline in Evo Morales' ratings. It is interesting to note that during the referendum, almost all the main Bolivian cities voted against him and, if not for the rural areas, the most remote and least cultural, where it is much easier for the authorities to rig the results of the vote, then Morales' defeat would have been even more crushing.

Context

New times in Latin America

Infolatam 01/15/2016

Latin America and the Millennium Development Goals

EL Punto Critico 07/24/2015

Three processes of Latin America

El Pais 10/02/2015

Latin America: four reasons to celebrate

El Tiempo 12/22/2015

Latin America owes a debt to the poor

El Pais 07/07/2015 How long will this peculiar ruler blame “American imperialism” and “liberals” for all his failures? The latest Morales scandal involves China, not the United States. His ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Zapata, now in prison, who gave birth to his child in 2007, held a senior position in a Chinese company that received large and unreasonable contracts for road construction and other public works worth more than $500 million. The blatant abuse of power in the distribution of these illegal contracts, as revealed by intrepid journalist Carlos Valverde, shocked the country, and the president's excuses and denials only increased suspicion of his impropriety. The Bolivian public should remember that this is only a very recent case of corruption, which has appeared many times over the past decade, although thanks to Evo's popularity it has been kept quiet. Let us hope that this fading popularity will no longer be able to mislead the Bolivian society, which supported a head of state and a regime that represents the embodiment of the most unbridled populism.

I would also like to believe that the world community, like the Bolivians, will stop showing this disposition, discriminatory and racist in its essence, especially in Europe, towards “the first Indian to become President of Bolivia. This is one of many false statements regarding his official biography that have been loudly voiced throughout his international travels. Why discriminatory and racist? Yes, because the French, Italians, Spaniards and Germans, who greeted the funny president with cheers at official meetings without ties, would never greet the leader of their country if he said the same nonsense as Evo Morales (for example, about that there are so many homosexuals in Europe due to excessively high consumption of chicken meat). But, in their opinion, this illiterate character is quite suitable for Bolivia. The applause for Evo Morales reminded me of Günter Grass, who advised Latin Americans to “follow the example of Cuba,” but at the same time in Germany and other European countries he was no longer advocating communism, but social democracy. Approaching the first and third world with different assessments is precisely that same discrimination and racism.

Those who believe that Evo Morales is quite suitable for Bolivia (but not for France or Spain) have a completely wrong idea about this highland country. I love this country very much, because there, in Cochabamba, I spent nine years of my childhood, about which I have the brightest memories. Bolivia is not a poor country, but an impoverished country. Like many Latin American republics, it has been impoverished by the mismanagement and misguided policies of its leaders, many of whom are illiterate demagogues like Evo Morales.

They failed to properly utilize the wealth of human and natural resources, allowing a small handful of oligarchs to live in luxury, while the vast masses of Quechua and Aymara Indians, as well as the mestizo, who form the basis of the middle class, vegetated in poverty. Evo Morales and his entourage did not contribute in any way to the economic development of Bolivia, although they entered into trade agreements with Brazil for the development of gas fields and received huge loans from China for the construction of gigantic facilities (for many of them a feasibility study was not even developed). Such actions significantly jeopardize the future of the country, and the policy of nationalization, the strangulation of private enterprise and the glorification of class (often turning into racial) struggle causes an increase in social violence with all the ensuing consequences.

Bolivia has courageous, realistic and respected politicians (I know some of them). Despite the most difficult conditions in which they had to act, being subjected to defamation in the media, risking being in prison or being deported outside the country, they defended democracy, trampled freedom, opposed arbitrariness, demagoguery, corruption, rash and erroneous steps of Evo Morales and his a team of ideologists led by the vice-president, Marxist Álvaro García Linera. It is politicians like these, and tens of thousands of Bolivians like them, who represent the true face of Bolivia. They want to see their country not as a spectacular popular picture, but as a modern, free, prosperous and truly democratic state, which Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Peru and a number of other Latin American countries now are. They have managed to free themselves, or are about to do so, from rulers like the Kirchners, Hugo Chavez and his follower Nicolás Maduro, the inarticulate Rafael Correa, Lula and Dilma Rousseff, who have dragged them or continue to drag them towards the abyss.

The defeat of Evo Morales in the referendum on Sunday 21 February gives great hope to Bolivia and is now only necessary for the opposition to maintain the (unfortunately weak) unity that emerged from the popular vote. If there is another split in its ranks, it will be a royal gift for the fading star Evo Morales. If the opposition remains as united and active as it has been in recent weeks, then Bolivia will be the next country to free itself from populism and regain freedom.

It arose in the country due to the fact that in 2005, Bolivian President Carlos Mesa resigned after spending 2 years in the highest government post. A complex situation arose from a legal point of view, as a result of which the Chairman of the Supreme Court became the interim head of state. From June 10 to December 18, 2005, the President of Bolivia was Eduardo Rodríguez Welze, who had to take this post after the presidents of both houses of Parliament refused the honor.

Events of 2005

After thousands of demonstrations that lasted several weeks, early elections were held in the country in 2005. As a result of the vote, Evo Morales, a populist politician with far-left views, became the President of Bolivia.

The main election promises of the future head were the nationalization of the oil industry and refusal to pay debts to external creditors. In addition, the proposal to allow the cultivation of coca for personal needs aroused great enthusiasm among the population. All these initiatives found a response among the local population. As a result, Evo Morales became the President of Bolivia.

Reign of Evo Morales

Since Morales has been at the helm of Bolivia, cocaine production in the country has increased by more than a third. This put it on a par with the largest suppliers of this drug.

The president himself claims that coca production does not affect the growth of drug trafficking and continues to sign international agreements to combat drug trafficking. One of these agreements was concluded in Moscow in 2005.

However, that same year, the President of Bolivia expelled the US ambassador from the country and terminated a similar agreement with America. The head explains his position on growing a narcotic plant in the country by the fact that for many centuries local residents have been cultivating it without harming other people, but using it only for medicinal purposes.

Another eccentric event of the Morales presidency was the implementation of which revised the foundations of the Bolivian government.

Course towards socialism

As the head and founder of the Movement Towards Socialism party, Morales began to carry out left-wing reforms as soon as he came to power. How did it go? To begin with, a constitutional reform was required, which was possible only through a referendum.

This procedure was carried out with resounding success - 61% of the population voted for its implementation. According to the main provisions, the nationalization of hydrocarbon raw materials was carried out and all large corporations that received excess profits from the gas produced in Bolivia were expelled.

In addition, the constitution guaranteed the participation of representatives of national minorities in parliament and abolished the official status of Catholicism. Perhaps the most unusual provision of the new constitution was the recommendation to honor the fertility goddess Pachamama, whom the indigenous people of Bolivia have worshiped for many centuries.

It is worth noting here that the new President of Bolivia’s attention to local culture is due to the fact that he became the first representative of indigenous Bolivians to occupy such a high position in the state apparatus.

Why the people of Bolivia elected Evo Morales for a third presidential term, what they hope for and what tasks Morales himself sets for himself

Elizaveta Bazanova

In 1993, after the general elections, the situation in the country worsened: the centrist Nationalist Revolutionary Movement party won the elections, and Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada became president. He began to implement a policy of shock therapy, carried out economic liberalization and large-scale privatization of state assets. To renew his offensive against Bolivian coca farmers, de Lozada negotiated with the United States to liquidate 12,500 acres of coca in exchange for $20 million.

In 1994, Morales was arrested and accused of inciting a coup. As a sign of protest, he went on a hunger strike in prison. The next day, 3,000 peasants across Bolivia arrived in the city of La Paz, where the government is headquartered, and demonstrated in support of Morales. Due to the lack of direct evidence of the preparation of a coup and close public attention to the investigation of the case, Morales was released from custody.

But already in April 1995, he was arrested again - this time he was accused of anti-government actions. After his release, he went to Argentina and began preparations for the creation of his party “Movimiento al Socialismo” (Spanish acronym - MAS (from the Spanish name) - means “more”, it is MAS that is most often called the party of Evo Morales in Bolivia).

Leader of the Opposition

The party united the coca growers' union and three other Bolivian unions representing miners, peasants and indigenous peoples of the country. “Our party unites everyone who demands the nationalization of industry, the legalization of coca and the fair distribution of national resources,” El Mundo quotes Morales. The country's government has repeatedly accused him of involvement in the cocaine trade. The party gained great popularity, drawing mainly on widespread discontent among the population in rural and poor urban areas. The party's campaign was successful, and in the 2002 presidential elections the party received 20.9% of the vote - Morales took second place and became the leader of the opposition. His indigenous origins and unexpected victory made him an instant celebrity throughout Latin America. He launched an active work: he sharply criticized the government's policies, traveled around the world, met with the President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, and traveled to Libya and Switzerland.

Meanwhile, a gas war and a series of mass protests began in the country. The main demand of the rioters was the nationalization of the gas industry. The government was accused of selling gas to American companies below market value. Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada resigned and fled to Miami. Carlos Mesa took his place - he tried to maintain a balance between the demands of the United States and the coca producers, but the population did not trust him, and in 2005 he resigned, citing pressure from Morales and the unrest.

In January 2006, Evo Morales became the new president of Bolivia, receiving the support of 54% of the population with a turnout of 84.5%. His success in the presidential election was facilitated by an anti-American election program and promises to nationalize the gas industry and legalize the cultivation of coca. “This piece of paper shaped me as a person, as a politician, and now as a president. I cannot betray him by agreeing to the American demands to destroy crops, I cannot betray millions of our peasants, for whom the coca leaf is sacred and has nothing to do with drugs,” he said in an interview with the Bolivian newspaper El Deber.

Morales-President

The Morales regime can be called the most conservative and most radical regime in the country's history, the main thing is that since 2006 it has provided Bolivia with political stability, which no president before him could do, says James Petras from the Canadian think tank CRG. In his view, Morales' allies include leaders of social movements around the world, whom he has met during his many trips around the world, as well as mining executives and agricultural exporters. During his presidency, Morales defended the consistency of economic policy, exercised strict control over government spending, ensured budget surpluses and increased the level of public investment, according to experts from Foreign Policy. According to the World Bank, since 2006, the country's GDP has increased from $11.5 billion to $30.6 billion, GDP per capita has increased from $1203 to $2867, and the number of mobile communications users has tripled. The country's gold and foreign exchange reserves amount to $15 billion.

According to James Petras, the government controls strikes and other forms of pressure, as a result, bankers and foreign investors have the opportunity to steadily develop their business. However, while only a small part of government revenues is spent on the development of social programs, fixed assets remain in banks; at best, the government increases spending on infrastructure to facilitate the transportation of mineral exports. The country is now exporting mineral and agricultural raw materials, and the government is encouraging large foreign investments in mining and agriculture, says James Petras. According to him, Morales is criticized for not increasing the minimum wage, the majority of workers and peasants live below the poverty line, while he supports the power of capital and the business elite, but this is his greatest achievement: “He was able to create a political and social coalition, in the first four years of his tenure as president, he faced stiff opposition from the regional elite of the richest region in the country, Santa Cruz, but instead of military suppression of his opposition, he negotiated and was able to reach an agreement with the main businessmen of the country, now agricultural producers receive subsidies and tax breaks, they stimulate exports, and he carries out land reforms for landless peasants, and small landowners have the right to run their own businesses and engage in small exports.”

Morales pursues an active foreign policy. According to experts from the Belgian International Crisis Group, Morales expelled the US ambassador from the country and stopped American interference in regional politics, repeatedly condemned the trade blockade of Cuba, supported the military coup in Honduras and the Argentine government's attempts to retain the Falkland Islands. He joined the radical Alba regional bloc initiated by President Hugo Chavez and supports regional Latin American integration.

The main thing he needs to do is to improve the standard of living of the population who provide him with such support in the hope of a better life. Bolivia remains dependent on exports of raw materials and imports of finished products, its main sources of income are oil and imports of petroleum products, and promises to industrialize the mining of iron ore, zinc and tin have yet to be fulfilled. And although unemployment in the country is declining (in 2006 - 5.3%, in 2012 - 3.2%), Bolivia has the lowest minimum wage of all Latin American countries - $0.9 per hour, 51% of the population lives on less than $2 a day.

Bolivia and Russia

Trade and economic ties between Russia and Bolivia are becoming increasingly stronger, especially in the oil and gas, mining and energy sectors, and the flows of Russian investments and technologies and sales of military equipment are increasing. The basis of Russian exports to Bolivia are microcircuits, machinery, equipment and vehicles, electric engines and generators, control and measuring equipment and instruments. Tin ores and concentrates, unroasted caffeinated coffee, Brazil nuts are supplied from Bolivia to Russia (data from the National Committee for the Promotion of Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries). “Ties between Russia and Bolivia with the victory of Evo Morales will strengthen, and we can expect the creation of new energy projects and transactions in the defense sector,” RIA Novosti cites the opinion of Doctor of Sciences, professor of geopolitics Alberto Hutchenreuther. In his opinion, diplomatic relations between the two countries have a 70-year history, but mutual trade exchange is still low. There are several areas in which progress will be attempted, notably energy: Russia can provide significant assistance both in technology and in the economic sphere. “Given that Bolivia intends to strengthen its role as a player in the energy sector by 2020 sphere, we can confidently assume that important agreements will be concluded,” the expert concluded.

Juan Evo Morales Aima(Spanish: Juan Evo Morales Ayma), founder of the radical left party "Movement to Socialism", 80th incumbent president. An Indian by nationality, born in a mountain backwater, over a 400-year period, since the era of Spanish colonization, he became the first representative of the indigenous population of South America to occupy the presidential post. Evo Morales, it seems, is not lying when he admits that he himself has difficulty believing that he managed to get into the presidential residence in .

Evo Morales prefers to be called not “Mr. President”, but “Comrade Evo”; he believes that the concept of “comrade” is eternal. The President of Bolivia is also popularly called El Evo. The President of Bolivia has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times (in 1995, 1996 and 2007). And in 2008, according to Time magazine, Morales became one of the hundred most influential politicians on the planet. Evo Morales was never officially married.

Biography moments

Evo Morales was born on October 26, 1959 in the mountain village of Isallavi, 400 km from the capital of Bolivia, into a poor peasant family. Often the only thing there was in the house was some corn, from which the mother prepared breakfast and lunch and dinner. On holidays, the family could afford some dried meat.

Father, Dionisio Morales Choque, and the mother, Maria Mamani, were not particularly involved in raising their son: usually in peasant Indian families, education comes down to personal example, children are only instilled with basic moral principles, such as “don’t lie,” don’t steal,” “don’t show your weakness.” Despite a difficult childhood full of hardships, Morales considers his childhood years to be the best.

As a boy, he was a shepherd, sleeping in the mountains right under the starry sky.

“And it was wonderful! Morales laughs. “After all, back then I lived in a thousand-star hotel, but when I become president, I can only afford a five-star one!”

Although Morales was a diligent student, he was unable to graduate from the rural school: the family moved to, from where the young man was drafted into army service.

Beginning of a political career

In the early 80s, Evo went to the mountainous region of Chapare, known for its coca plantations, and a few years later Morales gained authority among “ cocaleros", in 1985 he became the leader of the local agricultural trade union, and in 1988 he was elected secretary of the Tropical Federation of Trade Unions.

In the 1980s and 1990s, he actively participated in protests against the US-sanctioned destruction of bush plantations, which were outlawed. In 1991, Morales was elected chairman of the coordinating committee of 6 trade unions, and in 1995 in Vienna, at the 38th meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Evo made a speech in defense of coca, a traditional culture.

In 1995, Morales created the party "Movement towards socialism", MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo), from which he was a candidate for the presidency.

Although Morales came second in the 2002 elections, his indigenous origin quickly made him a celebrity in all regions of South America.

Indigenous Indians of Latin American countries have been adding coca leaves to their food for centuries; tea is brewed from the leaves, which increases overall tone and resistance to altitude sickness.

According to many, it was the coca bush that played a fateful role in Morales’ career, because during the election campaign he promised his voters, the vast majority of whom were ordinary peasants, that he would legalize coca cultivation. Their votes ensured Morales a landslide victory in the next presidential election.

The president's reform activities have drawn sharp criticism from residents of some regions of the state. In 2006-2008, in the most developed lowland departments (Santa Cruz,) demonstrations of many thousands gathered more than once, often ending in fierce battles between opponents and supporters of the government. In a referendum on confidence in the president held by the authorities in August 2008, to the disappointment of the opposition, Evo Morales was supported by more than 67% of voters.

Evo Morales: “The coca leaf is not a drug!”

In 2009, the National Congress approved a new Constitution: among many reforms, it provided for the possibility of re-electing the president. At the next elections in December 2009, Comrade Evo won another victory, gaining 63% of the votes; in January 2010, he again assumed the presidency.

Evo ideology

• The President of Bolivia adheres to leftist views in politics. He leads a movement of peasant cocaleros opposing the US government's efforts to eradicate coca crops in the mountainous province of Chapare. Evo Morales states:

“Capitalism is the worst enemy of humanity. Until the world recognizes this reality, when the state does not provide the people with even minimal nutrition, health care and education, basic human rights will be violated daily.”

Morales, Juan Evo

Juan Evo Morales Aima(Spanish) Juan Evo Morales Ayma, R. October 26 in Orinoca, Oruro), better known as or even just Evo- President of Bolivia. An Aymara, he is the first indigenous American to lead Bolivia in more than 400 years since Spanish colonization.

Morales calls for a constitutional assembly to transform the country. He also proposes the creation of a new hydrocarbon law that would ensure that 50% of the revenue remains in Bolivia, although MAS has expressed interest in completely nationalizing the gas and oil industries. As a result, Evo Morales chose a compromise path, supporting the nationalization of gas production companies, but without abandoning international cooperation in the industry.

Morales described the US-promoted Free Trade Area of ​​the Americas (FTAA) as “an agreement to legalize the colonization of the Americas.”

Evo Morales has expressed admiration for native Guatemalan activist Rigoberta Menchú, as well as Fidel Castro, the latter's opposition to the United States.

Morales' stance on drugs can be summed up as "the coca leaf is not a drug." Indeed, chewing coca leaves has always been traditional among the indigenous people (Aymara and Quechua) and these leaves are considered holy among them. The narcotic effect of coca leaves is less than that of the caffeine found in coffee, and for many poor Bolivians they are the only way to work a full day, which for some of them can be fifteen or eighteen hours. The indigenous practice of chewing coca leaves is over a thousand years old and has never caused drug problems in their society. Therefore, Evo Morales believes that the cocaine problem should be solved on the consumption side, and not by destroying coca plantations.

Heads of State of Latin America

There are many disagreements between the Evo Morales administration and the United States over drug laws and how the two countries should cooperate, but officials from both countries have nonetheless expressed a desire to work against drug trafficking. Sean McCormack of the US State Department reiterated his support for Bolivia's anti-drug policy, and Morales declared: "there will be no cocaine, there will be no drug trafficking, but there will be coca." He also said that the absence of coca would mean the absence of Quechuas and Aymaras, two indigenous groups in Bolivia.

The incoming government of Evo Morales received congratulations and political support from most of the region's presidents and several European leaders. On the other hand, the White House hinted at the possible illegitimacy of Morales' election victory by issuing a cold statement congratulating him on his "apparent" victory.

Plans to assassinate Evo Morales

On April 17, Bolivian media reported the exposure and neutralization of a "terrorist group" that was planning the physical destruction of President Morales and Vice President Alvaro García Linera. During a shootout between police and attackers at the Las Americas Hotel in Santa Cruz, three members of the terrorist group were killed and two were arrested. The terrorists include a Romanian, a Hungarian, an Irishman, a Bolivian and a Colombian, indicating the possibility of assassins being involved in this plan. Morales himself, who was in Venezuela that day, accused the right-wing opposition of attempting a coup.