Video teleSUR English

Contributed by Jim Hayes

Although Evo Morales won the count in the first round of the presidential election on 20 October by a big enough margin to not require the nation to go to a second round of voting, the opposition did not accept the result.

It responded with often violent demonstrations.

Then a report from Organisation of American States (OAS) claimed that the ballot had been manipulated. No one has provided proof that there was widespread cheating. The contention is over a delay in the counting.

The OAS is Hostile to Morales, who is seen as a leftist opposing neoliberalism, at the same time that many of its leading nations are facing revolts in their own countries. It means that the report needs to be taken with considerable caution.

What is emerging is that there is a close association between the more privileged part of Bolivian society, right wing political parties, the military and police. The latter two brought the prospect of a military coup, which became more real when some police and soldiers joined the demonstrations.

On Sunday on Sunday, the commander of the Bolivian armed forces, Williams Kaliman, publicly called on the president to step down. The loyalty of the armed forces could no longer be guaranteed.

Faced with this, Morales, together with the vice-presidential candidate, Álvaro García Linera, resigned, promised a thorough investigation and new elections as soon as possible. It is uncertain as to who is in control of the government.

The opposition claims to stand foe democracy and Bolivia, and even use seemingly leftist slogans. But its actions suggest otherwise.

Further on the violent campaign against Morales

Video from France 24