Bolivian President Evo Morales and his vice president have resigned from office following weeks of unrest. They leave behind a power vacuum and uncertainty for the future of the South American country.
Protests began immediately following the election on October 20, 2019, which protesters claim was fraught with irregularities, if not outright fraud. Initially, results showed that Morales lacked the lead over his opponents that would have been required to avoid a second round of voting. Abruptly and without explanation, the government stopped publishing election results for 24 hours. Once publication was resumed, the government claimed that Morales had won by a slim margin without the need for a second round.
The protests that ensued resulted in large scale upheaval, with schools and businesses closed around the country. The Organization of American States (OAS) backed up the protesters’ claims by issuing a report outlining serious irregularities during the elections. Eventually, the Bolivian military renounced its support of Morales, ultimately prompting his resignation. Morales has left the country and has been granted asylum in Mexico.
