Bolivian Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Photo: TSE.
On Wednesday, Bolivian President Luis Arce urged citizens to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming general elections on August 17.
During his speech at the opening of the 29th La Paz International Book Fair (FIL) at the Chuquiago Marka Exhibition Center, the president emphasized the importance of democratic participation.
“And just as we come together around culture and books, let us also come together around our collective responsibility to Bolivia, fully exercising our citizenship,” he said. It marks the second such occasion that President Arce has encouraged voter participation.
Along these lines, he emphasized that voting represents a “civic commitment” that defines the present and future of the country and called on Bolivians to participate “through conscious and committed action” to promote dialogue between social sectors.
Arce stressed that electoral participation constitutes an exercise of rights and duties toward the nation. “The act of voting is not just about marking a ballot, it is about deciding the course of Bolivia,” he said, inviting citizens to seek the common good in a diverse and culturally rich country.
The president’s call comes amid significant political tension. The day before, Arce criticized the campaign for null votes, or voter abstention, promoted by sectors loyal to former President Evo Morales.
According to the president, this initiative is motivated by “personal and egocentric ambition” and could benefit the right wing by increasing the percentage of valid votes for its candidates.
“Unfortunately, the only thing this action will achieve in practice is to benefit the right wing with a higher percentage of valid votes, to the detriment of the popular candidates,” Arce said, according to a message posted on his official account on X.
Sectors aligned with Morales are promoting null votes in response to the former president’s absence from the ballot. Last Thursday, leaders of social movements met in La Paz and issued a statement titled “Deepening the Plurinational State or Establishing an Oligarchic and Racist Republic.”
On social media, they shared images of activists holding signs that read “Vote of Resistance” and “Null Vote,” alongside the name of Evo Morales. On Tuesday, the groups opened campaign offices to promote this position.
Bolivia: Uncertainty, Internal Disputes, and Popular Fatigue (Interview)
President Arce insisted on the need for active participation to strengthen democracy and prevent decisions such as null votes from weakening the candidates of the popular camp.
(teleSUR)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SL/DZ