Bolivian opponents and pro-government supporters shouts interrupt Arce’s speech

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The speech of the President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, on the occasion of the 196th anniversary of the independence of his country was constantly interrupted by the shouts of opponents – who claimed that in 2019 there was an “electoral fraud” – and pro-government supporters – who claimed that the crisis that year was a “coup d’état”.

The incidents occurred during Arce’s speech in the special session of the National Legislative Assembly, held for the patriotic anniversary.

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The first thirteen minutes of the presidential speech passed without interruptions, except for some occasional applause from the pro-government parliamentarians and the leaders of the pro-government labor unions invited to the session.

The tension began when Arce referred to the “coup d’état” of 2019, the moment in which the opposition benches of Comunidad Ciudadana (CC) and Creemos began to shout “fraud” and “democracy yes, dictatorship no”.

In response, legislators of the governmental Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) shouted “coup” and showed banners saying “it was a coup”.

The opposition called Arce a “puppet” and a “liar”. At the same time, the ruling party, which is the majority in Parliament, shouted that “Lucho is not alone, dammit” and called the opposition parliamentarians “coup plotters” and “murderers”.

The shouting exchanges went on for about five minutes amid requests for order and calls for composure by the Bolivian Vice President, David Choquehuanca, who also presides over the Legislature’s sessions.

Arce continued speaking, but from then on, shouting was a constant until several opponents chose to stand with their backs to the speakers’ rostrum. At the same time, the pro-government supporters applauded the president’s words and also interrupted him occasionally, but to chant cheers in his favor.

After the presidential speech, Choquehuanca said that “we all deserve respect, even more so if the authorities are legitimate and democratically elected.” The vice-president offered an apology to the “Bolivian people” for what happened and concluded the session.

The ruling party claims that in 2019 there was a “coup d’état” against then president, Evo Morales, while the opposition maintains that the crisis of that year was due to an electoral fraud favorable to MAS in the general elections that were later annulled.

The recent decision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to close the investigations for the “electoral fraud” case rekindled polarization in the country, where the day before, a mobilization called in La Paz by anti-government citizen platforms ended in clashes with pro-government groups and public officials.