Series of resignations by Bolivia's highest political leaders following disputed election results
Bolivia's 2019 political crisis ended Evo Morales's 14-year presidency and triggered a prolonged constitutional and social crisis over disputed election results.
Key Facts
- Morales resignation date
- 10 November 2019
- Áñez sworn in as acting president
- 12 November 2019
- Original election date
- 20 October 2019
- New elections held
- October 2020
- Vote count halt duration
- 24 hours, unexplained
- New election winner
- Luis Arce (MAS)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
President Evo Morales pursued a controversial fourth term after Bolivia's Supreme Court struck down constitutional term limits, overriding a referendum result. During the October 2019 election, a sudden 24-hour halt in the vote count raised widespread suspicions of fraud. The opposition and civil society alleged manipulation of the results, triggering nationwide protests and demands for Morales to step down.
On 10 November 2019, Bolivia's military and police requested Morales's resignation, which he submitted while alleging a coup against him. He accepted asylum from Mexico. Opposition senator Jeanine Áñez was subsequently voted acting president by parliament on 12 November, endorsed by the Plurinational Constitutional Tribunal despite a quorum dispute. Congress unanimously annulled the October election on 23 November, barring Morales from new elections.
Bolivia entered a prolonged period of political instability, with violent protests including the Senkata and Sacaba massacres. The Áñez government pursued sedition charges against Morales and his allies. New elections, repeatedly delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, were finally held in October 2020, resulting in victory for Luis Arce, Morales's former finance minister, returning the MAS party to power.