Bolivia’s Morales says shots fired at his car as political tensions rise
Al Jazeera
The former president claims it was an attempt to kill him as the ruling socialist party factions struggle for power ahead of 2025 polls.
Bolivia’s former President Evo Morales says shots were fired at his vehicle on Sunday amid rising political tensions within the ruling socialist party factions. Morales and his former economy minister and current President, Luis Arce, are engaged in a power struggle ahead of next year’s polls.
In a radio interview, Morales said two vehicles intercepted him on the road and fired upon his car, claiming a bullet passed “centimetres” from his head. “I don’t know if they were soldiers or police,” Morales said.
He added, “This was planned. The idea was to kill Evo.”
Morales, Bolivia’s first Indigenous president, posted a video on Facebook taken from inside his moving car. The video shows him sitting in the front passenger seat and reveals at least two bullet holes in the windshield. The driver appeared to have been injured, though was still driving the vehicle.
Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios said the government will investigate the alleged attack on Morales, adding that police ‘have not executed any operation’ against the former president.
