Evo Morales is investigated for rape of a minor

The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, is involved in a new controversy amid increasing tensions with the current government of Luis Arce, his former ally.

According to the Bolivian Minister of Justice, César Siles, Morales is being investigated for an alleged case of rape of a minor, which occurred around eight years ago, when he was still in power.

The recent complaint, published by the local press, includes the allegation that the former president had a daughter with the young woman.

At a press conference, Minister Siles expressed indignation when reporting the case. “We see with indignation serious crimes that are attempted to go unpunished: I am specifically referring to a girl, a girl raped when she was 15, 16 years old,” said the minister.

Siles revealed that the girl gave birth to a child, and, according to the birth certificate, Evo Morales is registered as the father. “From this rape, a girl was born, and the father recognized on the birth certificate is Mr. Evo Morales Ayma,” he added.

The investigation into Morales gained visibility after statements by prosecutor Sandra Gutiérrez, who claimed to have been removed from her position for requesting the former president’s arrest.

Gutiérrez was involved in an investigation into “human trafficking,” a case that also included the participation of a minor. According to her, the former president had a relationship with a 15-year-old teenager in 2016, which resulted in the birth of a daughter.

The prosecutor did not provide details about the arrest request, but mentioned that the investigation is part of a broader process involving possible abuses committed during the Morales government.

The case generated great repercussion in Bolivia, especially because it involved a prominent political figure and former leader of the country. Evo Morales, who governed Bolivia between 2006 and 2019, has always been a central figure in national and international politics. His government was marked by a series of social and economic reforms, as well as strong internal and external opposition. Since his departure from power, Morales has maintained a complicated relationship with the current government of Luis Arce, his former political ally, who now leads the country.

Morales publicly spoke out about the accusations through his social networks, vehemently denying the allegations and accusing the government of political persecution. On his account on the social network X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “This neither surprises nor worries me. All neoliberal governments, including the current one, have threatened me, persecuted me, arrested me, tried to kill me. I’m not afraid! They won’t silence me!” declared Morales, reinforcing his stance that the accusations were part of a campaign to silence and discredit him.

Investigations into the case are still ongoing, and the Bolivian government stated that it intends to conduct the process with transparency. However, the episode is already causing divisions in the country’s political scene, with critics of Morales calling for a full investigation and his supporters arguing that the accusations are part of a strategy to weaken his political influence.

The relationship between Evo Morales and the current government of Luis Arce had already been deteriorating in recent months. Morales, who was Arce’s political mentor and responsible for his rise to power, has openly criticized the current president’s administration, accusing him of moving away from the ideals and projects of his government. In turn, Arce’s government has progressively distanced itself from Morales, and the emergence of these investigations further increases tension between the two sides.

The Bolivian political scene is in turmoil, with heated debates about the future of the investigations and the implications for Morales. Meanwhile, the former president continues to assert his innocence and position himself as the victim of a campaign of persecution. His opponents, on the other hand, see the case as an opportunity to hold Morales accountable for possible crimes committed during his term in office.

The investigation is still in its early stages, and it is unclear what the next steps in the judicial process will be. However, the case is already stirring Bolivian politics, and tensions between Morales and the current government are likely to continue to intensify as the investigations progress.