BOLIVIA: A new opportunity to build a stronger democracy
Despite the clear results of the election held on October 2020, in which the candidate of the Movement for Socialism (MAS), Luis Arce, won around 55 per cent of the vote, polarisation continued. In a context where anyone who is not for MAS is assumed to be against them, it is difficult for civil society to operate and work together across the divide. The need is still to build bridges and find common ground, however hard that may be. Following a much-delayed election, the struggle should be on to build a stronger democracy.
The elections became the cause of great conflict, and can become the focus of an even stronger crisis than the pandemic itself. This is mainly due to the fact that as Bolivians, we tend to think that the electoral arena can be key to resolving the current confrontation.
Cristian León
