Bolivia: The Government Forced to Move Election Day Again
Bolivia Today ©
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| Source: Own creation |
The alarming increase of infections in past weeks around the country has forced the Bolivian government to move election day forward again. The electoral tribunal or TSE, as the institution is known, published July 23, a “resolution” (i.e. an official decision) stating that it had decided to move election day from September 6 to October 18, with the possible second round of elections taking place on November 29. The institution mentions having taken two major considerations to arrive at this decision. The first consideration being the said increase in infection cases, which are overwhelming the health system in many large cities already, combined with expert counsel and predictions, which together paint a not so encouraging picture. Above all, the possibility of the infections conflating with cases of flu and colds, is a prospect that no one wants to see happening. The second consideration has to do with the legal requirements of the electoral law, which states the newly elected government has to be in office beginning the following year, namely 2021. The requirements of the law are clear, so therefore there is little room for the TSE to operate.
The Corona Situation
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| Source: boliviasegura.gob.bo |
The country has reported well over 66 thousand confirmed cases, with Santa Cruz still being the city with the most cases, almost 32 thousand. Distant, but steadily increasing are La Paz (some 12 thousand) and Cochabamba (some 7 thousand).
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| New Cases Per Day, Source: boliviasegura.gob.bo |
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| New Cases Per Department, Source: boliviasegura.gob.bo |
The cases per day have been showing some encouraging signs as well as the data showing cases per department.
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| Total Cases, Source: boliviasegura.gob.bo |
The total cases curve however does paints a sober picture, showing an increasing trend in the number of cases.
What does this all mean?
At the moment, it seems the country is plagued with more questions than answers. While the government has followed a stricter line facing the virus, some regions have been more flexible and reluctant to follow the government's perceived decisiveness.
The, by far, most nagging question has been, however, the question about election day.
From having suspended the entire process, to restarting it with a new date, and now having to move the date again, the electoral process has been anything but normal.
The moving of dates is so problematic that the MAS, one of the political alliances to profit the most by holding the elections soon, has announced mobilizations and street demonstrations, protesting that decision. The hardening of the rhetoric, including violence, is particularly worrisome.
And, as if that were not enough, the prospect that MAS will lose its certification to take part in the elections, is flaring even more those reactions. There were various complains from other political alliances alleging that MAS candidate, Arce, had violated electoral law by talking about party-internal polls showing the party gaining support. The code strictly regulates the publication of polls.
Once again, Bolivia seems to be heading towards troubled times.
