Bolivian Government Says Opposition Readies to Overthrow President

The dirty war against the president increased days before the referendum of February 21, where the public had to rule on an amendment to the Constitution

The Bolivian Minister of Institutional Transparency and Fight against Corruption, Lenny Valvidia, reported that after the constitutional referendum, the opposition is preparing to try to overthrow President Evo Morales.

In an interview last night on television, Valdivia recalled that they tried to attack Morales first on the topic of management, something that could not achieve since in the 10 years of government, the results are unquestionable.

Referring to accusations against the president on the alleged influence peddling favoring Gabriela Zapata, the minister said that the issue of corruption by the president is relentless.

In that sense, she informed that authorities warned the Public Prosecutor’s Office on alleged illegal acts committed by Zapata, a former official from the company CAMC, and the case is under the responsibility of the judicial authorities.

Valdivia also referred to the fierce attack on social networks with the aim of damaging the image of the president and to weaken the government’s management.

Coinciding with these statements, Vice President Álvaro García Linera denounced that ‘we face a political articulation’ against the head of state.

The vice-president showed photographs where the brothers of Zapata appear alongside with opposition leaders, including former President Jorge Tuto Quiroga and Samuel Doria Medina.

The dirty war against the government increased days before the referendum of February 21, where the public had to rule on an amendment to the Constitution to allow the presidential binomial’s re-election.

In this consultation the opponents to the amendment won by a narrow margin of 51.3 percent versus 48.7.