Bolivia: Morales Satisfied with Increase in Invalid Ballots

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales has expressed satisfaction with the increase in invalid ballots in the recent elections. This increase is seen as a protest against his exclusion from the presidential race.

According to preliminary counts, invalid ballots reached 19.2%, a historical high. Morales stated via X that the protest was felt and that democracy should not be reduced to a simple administrative process.

In the first round of elections, Rodrigo Paz (32.1%) and Jorge Quiroga (26.8%) led the polls and will compete in the second round on October 19.

Evo Morales, who governed Bolivia from 2006 to 2019, attributes his exclusion to the manipulation of institutions by Luis Arce. He remains in a political stronghold in Chapare.

Political scientist Daniel Valverde believes that if Morales capitalizes on the protest vote, he will be able to recreate a popular alliance, but his behavior suggests that he will hinder the next government.