Carlos Mesa, former president of Bolivia: "We do not recognize the legitimacy of the candidacy of Evo Morales, but we will participate in the election"

The former Bolivian president and current presidential candidate, Carlos Mesa, Ignored this Wednesday in the Argentine capital the legitimacy of the candidacy of Evo Morales for his fourth term, while baderting that "building a 21st century democracy is essential after this authoritarian moment"

Bolivia will elect a new president in October 2019, during elections marked by the controversial participation of the current president despite the fact that In 2016, a referendum ended its constitutional reform project to allow a new application.

"We do not recognize the legitimacy of the candidacy of President Morales, but we will participate in the elections because we believe that the democratic battle must take place at the polls. The "no" of 2016 will be converted into a ratification in this year's elections ", badured the community citizen candidate at a meeting with the press within the Argentine Council of International Relations, in Buenos Aires.

Despite the defeat of 2016, the Supreme Court of Bolivia, close to Morales, He ended up qualifying his postulation and the electoral court did the same.

"In the case of Morales, he proposed a referendum, which lost him. From this moment, you enter a very different reality, you enter to violate the popular vote"he said.

Sure the desire to compete with Morales despite the lack of legitimacy, Mesa cited the example of Chavismo in Venezuela, which increased its power when "questioned by his legitimacy, total control of powers or disqualification of candidates, the opposition decided not to participate and gave the election". "This mistake can no longer be made," he added.

According to a latest poll published by the newspaper Page seven, Morales and Mesa are tied with around 30% of voting intentions. To win, a candidate must get 50% or at least 40% with a difference of 10% with the second, otherwise there will be a second round.

The figures are similar to the early-2019 surveys of Consultants Markets and Samples, Captura Consulting and Tal Cual, which show both candidates orbit around 30% of the vote, with a slight direction of Morales.

Venezuela and the "militancy" of Morales in favor of Maduro

The former president, between 2002 and 2005, after resigning from his position in the midst of a political crisis and several demonstrations against him, badured that he would return to Palacio Quemado. adopt the position of the Lima group with regard to Venezuela.

"I'm convinced that the president who represents Venezuela is the one who represents the elected body that enjoys undeniable legitimacy, namely the National Assembly "he remarked.

"I think we need to strengthen the supportive position for Juan Guaidó to reach a two-step solution: the departure of the government of Nicolás Maduro and the call for a transparent and close election because the situation is catastrophic, "he added.

For Mesa, Morals "Militarily approves "Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. "He supports her in all areas without distinction. This allows me to interpret the fact that President Morales thinks that is the model to follow. It's something I did not want for Boliviahe described.

Economic problems and "reasonably good" performance

Consulted on the main economic problems that will face the next Bolivian government, Mesa raised three problems: public expenditure, budget deficit and debt increase.

"In itself, these factors can be considered controllable, but the sum of these factors will pose difficulties requiring a reorientation of public spending and investment," he said.

Mesa also acknowledged that Morales had a reasonably good performance in managing the economy, but instead criticized the cult of personality that he built around him and the increase in corruption in his government.

"When I speak of a twenty-first century democracy in Bolivia, one must distinguish very clearly. It is not a question of going back to the past with those defects that the past had. We must strengthen the idea of ​​citizen and community, beyond the typical corporatism of Latin America."he explained.

"The benevolent international reading of President Morales has to do with his origin, undoubtedly important: to have been the first indigenous president of the country, "he said.