Bolivian Leader Steps Down

[quote]A leftist who had served longer than any other current head of state in Latin America,...

I remember when his tenure started like it was yesterday. How time flies. 😔

[quote]On his watch, the country’s power structure was upended. Women today hold nearly half the seats in Congress, and Indigenous people hold more sway than ever.

[quote]His first term also coincided with a commodities boom that allowed him and other leftist leaders in Latin America to lift millions out of poverty through subsidies and political patronage. One of the poorest nations in the world, Bolivia used proceeds from natural gas exports to turbocharge its economy.

He wasn't even that bad at first, but then the ego jumped out, as it so often does.

Love it. A new president, taking control. The police and army are with her. Enough with Morales.

The poverty rate plunged under Morales. The elite and rightwing zealots staged a coup.

Does OP think Morales is Bolsonaro (president of Brazil)?

As long as the new regime protects the forests, unlike Morales, I'm happy for now.

The Times is with the change.

Wonder how much Morales made from this.

In that photo it looks like he's wearing a cheap Korean wig.

He made millions. He’s fine.

His own people were fed up.

It wasn't a coup, he was the one who tried to illegally hold on to power. What the military did was to protect the Constitution.

Why does no one name their daughter 'Bolivia'?

He thought he’d live for the rest of his life in the palace he ordered built for himself.

[quote] Once in power, Mr. Morales had steadily concentrated power in his hands and planted loyalists in key institutions. Nearing the two-term limit for presidents set in the Constitution he himself had helped introduce, he called a referendum that would have allowed him to stay in office indefinitely. When it was defeated, he had the Supreme Court, by now stuffed with his loyalists, rule that limiting his time in office somehow violated his human rights. That cleared a run for re-election last month, but the highly fishy vote on Oct. 20 proved to be the last straw for many Bolivians, who took the streets.

In Bolivia as in Brazil, a coup and fascist ascendence has been powered by Neo-Pentacostalism. Its modern strength dates back to the Nixon/Reagan/Bush Sr-admins, which saw Evangelical faith as a way to counter and extinguish Catholic Liberation Theology.

Bolivia coup leader Luis Fernando Camacho is a rich oligarch and far-right cadre who emerged from Nazi-saluting fascist movements.

He has courted support from Colombia, Brazil, and the US-backed Venezuela coup regime

By @MaxBlumenthal and @BenjaminNorton

What is happening in Bolivia is the clear expression of anti indigenous right wing fundamentalism. They have burnt the plurinational flag of the indigenous nations, cut indigenous women’s hair, persecuted, burnt...

In El Alto—the epicenter of resistance to the coup in Bolivia—thousands proudly waved the indigenous flag known as the Wiphala, chanting: "Evo, again, come back to Bolivia!

No, it happened because the corrupt Leftist leader tried to hold on to power illegally. If he hadn't behaved as he did, the coup wouldn't have happened. Just because someone is leftist doesn't make them a saint.

While Senator @JeanineAnez proclaimed herself President of #Bolivia, the indigenous movements and supporters of Evo Morales are going to the streets to reject the right-wing coup. #EvoElMundoEstaContigo

His term in office saw a massive reduction in poverty and he led a government that finally favored the country's masses over a tiny number of oligarchs who had long controlled the country and who robbed it blind. He nationalized key industries and was generally very popular for a long time. But he had a Cold War mindset and blamed the US and the rich for anything and everything that went wrong; therefore unable to see his own errors and gauge popular opinion. He didn't recognize neutrality - it was either you were for him or against - no in between. And he believed the people were behind him 100%, any opposition was the result of US-backed forces. What did him in was his reluctance to give up power. He tampered with the election results and got the supreme court to rule constitutional term limits violated his human rights.

It was still a coup though.

America needs to send security consultants to protect the new president. And send in the consultants from McKinsey to restructure things and the Nature Conservancy to protect the rainforest.

Rebuilding

I'm sorry, when exactly is Sebastián Piñera going to step down as Chile's president? Santiago has been burning for months due to his mis-leadership and yet there is exactly zero pressure by the international community to see him step down. Why might that be? Is it only left leaning leaders who have to resign due to public pressure? It's a complete double standard and, frankly, I'm sick of it. Until the right wingers are ousted from power, leftists should not cede power like this. Morales made a big mistake giving into this right wing coup as he did. It will cost the nation of Bolivia dearly.

From today. She has a beautiful family.

As I said, double standard.

Hipsters in NYC aren't having it.

R25, Pinera isn't trying to stay in power forever. Morales was.

That MF is ugly! WTF is on his head? A wig?

R25 The point is, Pinera is a failure as a leader and a responsible one would see the writing on the wall and resign. Pinera has not done this, despite how his leadership has completely devastated Chile for months. No major international power has called on him to resign. In fact, the Rumpster has been openly supporting his continued hold on power. That's the difference and it's an important one. As I already said, leftists should not cede power anywhere until right wingers like Pinera and Bolsonaro in Brazil are forced out of office first. We cannot allow fascism to reign throughout Latin America. It would be devastating for the gay community and the entire world.

^ That was for R29

R31, why should he resign? He was elected freely and fairly, and there's no allegations of crime or corruption against him.

r13

Bolivia was the guy who freed the slaves

Pinera is still in power because the military and police support him. Morales departed because the Bolivian military and police abandoned him, therefore he had no way to put down the mass protests that were spreading across Bolivia.

R33 Because he is destroying his country, has engaged in severe human rights abuses, his military has murdered protestors and if this was happening in a left leaning government, the calls for resignation from the US and the international community would be loud and clear. That is not the case in Chile and that is a double standard that is unacceptable.

R35 Reich wing military and police should not be responsible for choosing who gets to hold power and who doesn't.

Live from Chile.

"Because he is destroying his country, has engaged in severe human rights abuses, his military has murdered protestors"

Links please.

Chile will be the new Argentina in several years

Anyone know more about Bolivia? Here's what I know:

-Bolivia has two capitals, El Sucre y La Paz - I think it is home to Lake Titicaca - Jamie Escalate from Stand and Deliver may have been from there -The Bowler hat fashion started when English salesman had a surplus of too small hats and told the Bolivian women it was fashion. - Some nice hallucinogenic may grow in Bolivia -Landlocked

That's it! Anyone have some in important facts to add?

R37 For starters.

Then there's this.

And this too.

And of course.

Has the president ordered the intentional injuring of protestors?

Chileans are undermining the rule of law. International investors will pull out. Go ahead and nationalize everything. Call Buenos Aires and Caracas for guidance.

Invest in East Asia. Investing in Latin America is throwing capital out the window.

Umm Max Blumenthal put a plastic bag over his head to mock the plight of dead Syrian children. He’s also being sued by numerous women and is a complete misogynist. Anyone that takes him seriously as a journalist is a moron. It’s unfortunate that Morales succumbed to greed and now his country will most likely have a right wing leader. Money corrupts and if you think left wing leaders are more principled than most - you’re a fool.

The Chinese have plans for Bolivia.

So many CIA talking points on this thread, Americans really are the dumbest people. Works ever time.

r47

Without a seacoast it's useless

Lol r49. Argentina will do anything for Chinese investment. The Chilean crisis is promising too.

Very nice.

Americans are so gullible. As this thread shows the are woefully ignorant and like their president proud of their stupidity.The internet is drowning in a ocean of USA propaganda about Morales. The CIA vomits it out and American corporate media laps it up. Bolivia was going to nationalize their Lithium mines. Lithium is major component of mobile phones.When this was discovered right-wing nationalists and American-funded opposition puppets attacked one of the Indigenous Mayor’s and the CIA started working to overthrow the elected president Evo Morales .Just as they tried in Venezuela a few months ago,Same old CIA playbook. This is why America is hated .

We expect no better from the new government. Bolivia is a hostile country.

Who's next?

The chump administration won't go after Chile because Pinera is right wing.

Thank god. The new president should kick the Chinese out of Bolivia's Amazon forest since Morales sold a big chunk to China. This is actually a win for America as this cuts China's efforts to meddle into South America.

^^^ War Criminal