Yolanda Mamani Cayo / La Paz
Escorted by leaders of the Unity Pact and by indigenous representatives, and in the background the presidents of the Senate and Deputies and their ministers, President Luis Arce gave his message to the country yesterday to commemorate the thirteenth anniversary of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Those absent were former President Evo Morales, who was demanding changes to the cabinet without achieving it, and the opposition, which was not invited to the official act or the diplomatic corps. In his speech, the President admitted division in the MAS, his party, but called for unity.
The president emphasized economic reactivation and social development, did not speak of the health crisis and this time he did not mention the phrase “coup d’état” either, as he did in all his previous speeches, although he did speak of “de facto government” , but with less frequency and intensity than before.
“Our fight will not be successful if individual ambitions and internal confrontations flourish (…) There are more things that unite us than things that separate us, of that I have no doubt,” Arce said after his party was plunged , for weeks, in an internal fight for the cabinet.
His call occurred in the context in which he was talking about the internal divisions of the MAS. “Recent history teaches us that only the consciousness, the organization, the mobilization of the people united around a historical project is capable of defeating enemies as powerful as imperialism and its internal political operators.”
Former President Morales and the sectors that support him championed the request for a change of ministers, but finally Arce, in a meeting with the Unity Pact, managed to delay the crisis, which was to occur on January 22, for later.
Act
Wearing the presidential medal and sash on his chest and accompanied by Vice President David Choqeuhuanca, President Arce began the day at around 8:00 in the atrium of the Casa Grande de Pueblo, where a group of amautas and yatiris were waiting for him with a pile of dry wood to carry out the Andean ritual of the “wajta” with offerings to Mother Earth.
Photo: APG
Two by two, starting with Arce and Choquehuanca, they approached the great brazier installed in the place that has the shape of an Andean cross, where the wood was ready to place all the objects, figures, sweets and incense, among others, on top. for two tables, one white and one colored, which those present ch’allated with alcohol, going around the four corners, always starting on the right and facing the sun. When they finished placing all the objects, Arce lit the fire with a match. They then entered the hall of the government building for the central act that began with the intonation of the National Anthem in Spanish and two native languages.
speeches
The President began by highlighting the creation of the Plurinational State 13 years ago as a new era that buries the colonial State and the achievements since the era of Evo Morales with the “democratic and cultural revolution.” He stressed that from the beginning of his administration he promoted the economic reactivation with the issuance of a bond and the return of the contributions of the AFPs to reactivate internal demand.
“When we assumed our government, the first measure applied was the Bond against Hunger. This measure benefited four million thirty-five thousand Bolivians with an amount of more than four thousand million Bolivians redistributed”, affirmed Arce and highlighted two other facts: the reimbursement of the Value Added Tax that benefited about 50 thousand Bolivians and the return of contributions from the AFPs, which reached 313,000 people.
For his part, Vice President Choquehuanca emphasized the construction of an inclusive State. “In the Plurinational State no one should be more than anyone else, our commitment is to build brotherhood, govern ourselves, where the people govern and participate in the construction of an increasingly inclusive and democratic society.”
The executive secretary of the Afro-Bolivian National Council, Niño Vásquez, also spoke, thanking the inclusion of the Afro-Bolivian community; the leader of the Single Trade Union Confederation of Peasant Workers of Bolivia, Eber Rojas, and the executive secretary of the Central Obrera Boliviana, Juan Carlos Huarachi.
While Rojas gave his support to Arce by telling him that he is not alone, Huarachi asked him to hold two summits, one on water and the other on traditional medicine, in addition to evaluating his ministers again. “There is a need to carry out a joint evaluation between the government and social organizations.”
Opposition
After the official ceremony, the opposition that was not invited agreed that Arce’s speech is far from reality.
“The President appeared with the social movements to say that he is not a solitary president, but rather that he has that support,” the senator from Creo Centa Rek told Página Siete. He added that Choquehuanca and Arce wanted to show unity “in the face of attacks by groups that obey former President Evo Morales.”
“President Luis Arce has made a message in hiding between four walls with his little friends from social organizations. He is afraid of going to the Legislative Assembly to face the opposition groups”, said the deputy of the Citizen Community Alberto Astorga.
brief treat
- Act Two hours lasted the central act for the anniversary of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in the Casa Grande del Pueblo. There were no parades or large gatherings.
- Natives Arce highlighted the presence of representatives of the 36 indigenous nations who arrived at the scene wearing their native attire and bearing gifts for the President.
- Regions The Movement Toward Socialism and its social organizations held small celebrations in their regions.
- Change. President Luis Arce did not speak of changing the Cabinet and some ministers appeared to be working in their respective areas.
