Bolivian president orchestrated a ‘self-coup,’ political rival Evo Morales claims

La Paz, Bolivia– former Bolivian president Evo Morales on Sunday accused his political ally turned rival, the president Luis Arce of deceiving the Bolivian people by staging a “self-coup” last week to score political points among the electorate, marking a sharp decline in an already tense relationship.

Morales was initially among the country’s most powerful voices in saying that about 200 members of the military who marched toward Bolivia’s government palace along with armored vehicles on Wednesday had attempted a “coup d’état.”

“We are convinced that democracy is the only way to resolve any differences and that institutions and the rule of law must be respected,” Morales wrote in a post on social media platform X on the day of the military action. “We reiterate the call for all those involved in this riot to be arrested and brought to justice.”

But on Sunday, Morales joined others who believe Arce himself orchestrated a “self-coup” to gain the sympathy of Bolivians at a time when his popularity is extremely low.

Arce “disrespected the truth, he deceived us, he lied, not only to the Bolivian people but to the entire world,” Morales said on a local broadcast program on Sunday.

Morales is lending his support to an accusation made by former general Juan José Zúñiga, who allegedly led the coup attempt. Morales said that Zúñiga informed his colleagues and family of his plan before carrying it out, and that While in custody, he told authorities that Arce had “betrayed” him.

“The president told me: ‘The situation is very screwed, very critical. We have to prepare something to raise my popularity,’” Zúñiga quoted the Bolivian leader.

That theory was quickly adopted by Arce’s political enemies, who described it as a “self-coup.”

“At some point the truth will be known,” says a handcuffed man. General Juan José Zúñiga told reporters while being transferred to prison Saturday.

Morales called for an independent investigation into Wednesday’s military action in a post on X on Sunday.

Shortly after the comments, Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo responded in an interview with state television with a snub at Morales, saying that “according to Evo, if there are no deaths, there is no coup d’état.”

Morales still wields great power in Bolivia, especially among coca growers and unions, while Arce has faced simmering discontent as the country reels from an economic crisis.

Morales, once a friend of Arce, resigned as president in 2019 amid unrest after running for an unconstitutional third term and fleeing into exile, an incident he claimed was a coup. He threw his support behind Arce in the country’s 2020 elections as a candidate for his Movement Towards Socialism, known by its Spanish acronym MAS.

But their relationship soured when the leader returned from exile and Morales later announced that he planned to run against Arce to be a MAS candidate in the upcoming 2025 elections. Their fights have become increasingly bitter as Morales has blocked much of of Arce’s legislative agenda in Congress.

“We have been attacked politically,” Arce told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. But “we have not attacked” in response.

The dispute has angered many Bolivians and Morales’ comments on Sunday probably wouldn’t help.

Morales said on the local radio program “Kausachun Coca” that he felt the incident damaged the image of Bolivia and its military. He also apologized for sympathizing with Arce.