Former Bolivian President Evo Morales claimed that he was the victim of an assassination attempt by police over the weekend, saying that his car was hit by bullets as he was on his way to a radio interview. However, the government has disputed these claims, accusing Morales of staging the incident himself by running a police checkpoint and firing shots at officers.
Minister of Government Eduardo del Castillo denied that Morales was deliberately targeted, stating that Morales’s convoy shot at police and ran over an officer during a standard highway patrol. The government also alleged that Morales’s vehicles were suspected of transporting drugs, and accused him of instructing his vehicles to be burned to destroy evidence.
The incident has exacerbated tensions between Morales and President Luis Arce, Morales’s former ally. Morales’s supporters have been blocking highways in central Bolivia, leading to clashes with security forces attempting to clear the blockades. The government has criticized Morales for destabilizing the country with the blockades, which have disrupted food and fuel supply nationwide.
The power struggle between Morales and Arce, both members of the MAS party, is further complicating the situation, as the country faces economic challenges such as declining gas production, depleted foreign reserves, and rising inflation. Morales is also facing allegations of relationships with minors, leading to a warrant for his arrest, which he denies.
The incident highlights the ongoing political turmoil in Bolivia as tensions between Morales and the government continue to escalate.
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