Elections 2019: The Final Chapter: President Morales Resigns
MABB ©
On November 10, 2019, at 5:05 pm, Evo Morales resigns from the Bolivian presidency.
In his (and his VP's) monologue, Morales said he took this decision because he wanted to put a stop the various attacks his MAS colleagues were being subjected to. He specifically accused the CC leader Carlos Mesa and Mr. Camacho, leader of Santa Cruz's Civic Committee, of ordering their supporters or militants to intimidate, physically assault and force MAS ministers to resign and denounce Morales. He qualified these events as a civic and political coup, planned and perpetrated by Camacho and Mesa. He pointed out he will not leave Bolivia, instead, he will live in Chapare, in his home. Finally, he said he will be always ready to come back.
On November 11, passed midnight, the former president Morales, together with his VP and Health Minister, Gabriela Montano, left Bolivia in a Mexican plane. They are headed to Mexico, where the government has given them asylum for humanitarian reasons.
On November 12, early in the morning, the old Congress has begun preparations to proceed with the election of a transitory President, one that will oversee the process for new elections. Bolivians are discussing the constitutional transfer of power in a moment where the country is in a so-called "power vacuum". Since the President, the Vice President, the Senate President and the President of the Chamber of Deputies have resigned, the presidential succession process given in the constitution is exhausted. There are no more provisions for anyone to take charge in this case. Article 169 lists the succession of power down to the lower chamber.
This was a serious issue. Many experts and politicians themselves did not know what to do. However, politics will not be politics if it were not flexible and creative. The solution the country is going for is to look at the Congress' own rules. Such rules say the upper and lower presidencies are backed up by vice-presidencies. In this case, if the Senate President resigns, the VP takes his or her place. In fact, there are more than one VP. Actually, there is a first and a second VP.
The result has been, the responsibility fell on the shoulders of Jeanine Anez, a Senator from Beni, member of the opposition party Plan Progreso para Bolivia - Convergencia Nacional (PPB-CN, in English Progress Plan for Bolivia-National Convergence) and second Senate VP since 2010.
Where does that leave us? Well, it leaves me with more questions than answers. For instance: The constitution is clear as to the line of succession. What happens when it gets exhausted? Is it possible to just assume the following of chamber procedures are enough to re-establish the constitutional order? Where is the first Senate VP? What happens if the MAS decides to leave Congress without a quorum?
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| Source: ATB news |
In his (and his VP's) monologue, Morales said he took this decision because he wanted to put a stop the various attacks his MAS colleagues were being subjected to. He specifically accused the CC leader Carlos Mesa and Mr. Camacho, leader of Santa Cruz's Civic Committee, of ordering their supporters or militants to intimidate, physically assault and force MAS ministers to resign and denounce Morales. He qualified these events as a civic and political coup, planned and perpetrated by Camacho and Mesa. He pointed out he will not leave Bolivia, instead, he will live in Chapare, in his home. Finally, he said he will be always ready to come back.
 |
| Source: Unitel news |
On November 12, early in the morning, the old Congress has begun preparations to proceed with the election of a transitory President, one that will oversee the process for new elections. Bolivians are discussing the constitutional transfer of power in a moment where the country is in a so-called "power vacuum". Since the President, the Vice President, the Senate President and the President of the Chamber of Deputies have resigned, the presidential succession process given in the constitution is exhausted. There are no more provisions for anyone to take charge in this case. Article 169 lists the succession of power down to the lower chamber.
This was a serious issue. Many experts and politicians themselves did not know what to do. However, politics will not be politics if it were not flexible and creative. The solution the country is going for is to look at the Congress' own rules. Such rules say the upper and lower presidencies are backed up by vice-presidencies. In this case, if the Senate President resigns, the VP takes his or her place. In fact, there are more than one VP. Actually, there is a first and a second VP.
The result has been, the responsibility fell on the shoulders of Jeanine Anez, a Senator from Beni, member of the opposition party Plan Progreso para Bolivia - Convergencia Nacional (PPB-CN, in English Progress Plan for Bolivia-National Convergence) and second Senate VP since 2010.
Where does that leave us? Well, it leaves me with more questions than answers. For instance: The constitution is clear as to the line of succession. What happens when it gets exhausted? Is it possible to just assume the following of chamber procedures are enough to re-establish the constitutional order? Where is the first Senate VP? What happens if the MAS decides to leave Congress without a quorum?
