The Senator and candidate for the presidency of Bolivia, Andronics Rodríguez, was the target of boos and stoning on Sunday (17), attending the vote in the municipality of Entre Ríos, the Tropic of Cochabamba, political stronghold of former President Evo Morales (2006–2019).
The hostility of the crowd exposed the degree of rejection to the former ally of Morales, now labeled by the militancy as “traitor.”
Rodríguez had arrived delayed to vote at José Carrasco school, still under investigation by Bolivian police.
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When preparing to give a press interview, he was surrounded by angry voters who launched stones and shouted slogans. The security team withdrew him in a hurry.
The waiting vehicle was also hit by stones. Rodríguez failed to talk to journalists and left the area without giving testimonials.
Explosion and threat
Moments before the candidate’s arrival, an explosive artifact was detonated near the José Carrasco School. According to prosecutor Juan Carlos Campero, the incident left no victims or material damage, and the vote continued.
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The campaign for null votes promoted by Evo Morales had special intensity in the region. Witnesses reported to the local press that there are threats to burn ballot boxes if the null vote has no majority in between ribs, deepening the climate of insecurity during the election.
From political heir to the target of militancy
Considered for years the natural successor of Evo Morales, Andronics Rodríguez broke with the former president in deciding to launch his own candidacy for the left-wing alliance, without the endorsement of Morales, which is prevented from competing for constitutional reasons and without formal legend.
The rupture was public. Morales called the former “traitor” pupil and began to promote the annulment of votes as a form of political protest. The movement has expanded the fragmentation of the Bolivian left field and made Rodríguez a target of the most faithful militancy to the former president.
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Open dispute
This Sunday’s elections are considered the most uncertain since 2006 and can mark the first defeat of the left in almost two decades.
With current President Luis Arce out of dispute and growing rejection of the MAS, opposing leaders such as Samuel Doria Medina (unit) and Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga (free) appear in the polls as favorite to compete for a possible second round.
Rodríguez, although well positioned as the main name on the left, appears between third and fourth place in voting intentions.
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More than 7.5 million voters in Bolivia and another 369,000 abroad participate in the election to elect the president, the deputy and the parliamentarians of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.
