The former president claims it was an attempt to kill him as the ruling Socialist Party struggles for power ahead of the 2025 elections.
Bolivia’s former president, Evo Morales, said a shooting occurred at his vehicle on Sunday amid heightened political tensions within the ruling Socialist Party faction. Morales and his former economy minister and current president, Luis Arce, are locked in a power struggle ahead of next year’s elections.
In a radio interview, Morales said two cars stopped him on the road and opened fire on his car, with a bullet passing “centimeters” from his head. “I don’t know if they are soldiers or police,” Morales said.
He continued, “It was planned. The idea was to kill the Evo.”
Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, posted a video taken from a moving car on Facebook. The video shows him sitting in the passenger seat, revealing at least two bullet holes in the windshield. The driver appeared to be injured but was still operating the vehicle.
Security Undersecretary Roberto Rios said the government would investigate the alleged attack against Morales, adding that police had not carried out any operations against the former president.
“As the authority responsible for national security, we have an obligation to investigate all reports, regardless of whether they are true or false,” Rios said.
Sunday’s incident came amid heightened tensions as Morales supporters blocked a highway in central Bolivia and security forces and police attempted to clear them. This situation risks triggering further unrest in a country already facing an economic crisis.
The government on Saturday accused the former president of destabilizing the country after two weeks of road blockades disrupted food and fuel supplies across the country. The government said he was trying to “disrupt the democratic order.”
The government also claimed in a statement that it had warned of potential violence, noting that some groups allied to Morales were armed and that 14 police officers were injured while trying to lift the blockade.
At least 44 protesters were arrested on Friday, when more than 1,700 police were deployed to remove roadblocks. According to the government, 14 police officers were injured.
Morales, 65, who served from 2006 to 2019, is the main opponent of Arce, 61. Both belong to the same Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party. But the two leaders have clashed over the past year as part of a power struggle ahead of the 2025 presidential election.
Additionally, declining gas production, depleting foreign exchange reserves, and rising inflation are increasing pressure on the ruling party and increasing political infighting.
Morales is also suspected of having a relationship with a minor. He was officially summoned by the district attorney to testify about the case, but did not appear, and is currently seeking an arrest warrant.
Morales strongly denies these accusations. He described the investigation against him as “another lie” and claimed that he was a victim of government-led judicial oppression.
