Bolivia
Morales and the morale of
After the defeat in the Referendum, Bolivian President Evo Morales is increasingly under pressure: The whole country is puzzled over the whereabouts of his supposedly deceased son, Fidel Ernesto. A detective from La Paz.
The timing of the publication could be spicy. Shortly before the
People vote on 21. February, should decide in the case of the Bolivians on a possible re-election of President Evo Morales, revealed the Bolivian Journalist Carlos Valverde, a political scandal.
President Evo Morales is supposed to have had a relationship with the Manager Gabriela Zapata from the Chinese company CAMC Engineering and a son begotten. And Morales is said to have helped his former partner to the well-endowed Post.
After all, the company got in the past, the contract for a total of seven state construction projects with a total value of more than $ 500 million – without any tenders.
Unpleasant Truths
His relationship with Gabriela Zapata, confirmed Morales. He explained, however, that the common son shortly after birth passed away and he lost any contact to the mother. The accusations that he had made his influence in favor of Zapata claims that he rejected.
But the story was never off the table. Six days after the Referendum, an aunt of Mr Zapata, came forward and stated that Morales ‘ third son, Fidel Ernesto was alive, live in the city of La Paz, and was between eight and nine years old.
Hasty Arrest
A day later, Zapata was arrested on charges of illegal enrichment and influence for the benefit of the company CAMC Engineering. The Prosecutor’s office led to the justification, it is suspect in economic activity, with revenues of more than $ 10,000 had been registered on the Bank accounts of the former life partner.
To have benefited from the influence of the President: Morales’ former life partner, Gabriela Zapata
“The arrest of the Ex-wife of Morales happened beyond all the rules,” says Zuazo. Zapata’s court hearing had taken place on a Sunday, although it was prohibited by law. In addition, your responsibilities as a mother had not been sufficiently taken into account. This circumstance could be no imprisonment, but only house arrest.
Two days later, on Monday (29. February) took President Evo Morales for the first time publicly commented on the revelations, the great-aunt of his Offspring: “If my son is alive, fills me with great joy. It is a blessing,” he said to the press. Nevertheless, he question, of course, why to him the existence of his son since 2007, has been concealed. “Why have you kept me from my son? What interests are behind this?”, Morales asked, and announced that he would seek custody of the boy.
Good President, bad father?
However, the political scientist Moira Zuazo of the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation in Bolivia has reason to doubt his sincerity, because the mothers of his first two sons, would have had to go to court, so the President acknowledged his paternity: “The relationship of Evo Morales to his sons, reveals a dark side to it,” says Suazo in an interview with DW.
Since the revelations of the Bolivian journalist Carlos Valverde, the company is involved in the Andean country, above all, a question: Knew Morales, his third son alive, or not? “The question and the debate over Morales falls into a very serious crisis,” says political scientist Zuazo.
Large Image
“In the past ten years, Morales was a kind of link with the company, he has articulated their needs,” says the political scientist. This image get the cracks. The media’s handling of the Bolivian government with the theme proved to be a boomerang. “At this Moment, a transparent dealing with the facts as positively prove would be,” is Zuazos recommendation.
21. February agreed with the majority of the Bolivians against the possibility of a further re-election of Morales
According to the assessment of the Bolivia-expert Almut Schilling-Vacaflor from the Giga Institute of global and area studies, the alleged scandal of Morales has also influenced the result of the referendum. In the Referendum on may 21. February Morales suffered his first significant defeat after ten years in office once. A slight majority of Bolivians spoke out against an Amendment to the Constitution, the Morales one more – would have allowed the fourth – candidacy for the presidency.
Felt, and corruption
However, to justify the defeat of alone, with this case, would be wrong. “The scandal of Zapata is not an isolated case,” says shilling. Until a year ago, it was Morales managed to maintain its positive Image. “Once the deficits of the government and the tensions within the ruling party is visible,” says shilling.
Even before the arrest of Morales ‘ Ex-partner, a corruption scandal at the international Fund for Indigenous have damaged the Reputation of the President. Many government projects would not publicly advertised, but directly on the party in government award. The handling of public funds will increasingly questioned.
But first, the Bolivian society demands a different answer – namely, whether Morales’ third son, Fidel Ernesto or not.