Access to the Pacific Ocean
Diplomatic relations with Chile were broken off in 1978, and although there are still commercial and consular agreements, relations are very tense. Chile has, indeed, deprived Bolivia of an access to the sea during the Pacific war that it won (1879-1883). Since then, the Bolivians have not ceased to claim a coastal territory and the issue is still burning between the two countries. In 2013, Bolivia sought to internationalize the debate by taking the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. In March 2016, the Bolivian president decided this time to bring a complaint to the ICJ against Chile over the exploitation of the transboundary Silala River, then strong tensions ensued in May 2016 following the Chilean military presence 15 km from the common border. In March 2017 the government launched the national campaign "El Mar Nos Une" ("the sea unites us") and "Mar Para Bolivia" ("the sea for Bolivia"). This communication strategy aims to raise awareness of this national cause. On this occasion a 200 km long Bolivian flag was flown between La Paz and Oruro in March 2018. This is the longest flag in the world. In reality, this communication operation seemed to be primarily an electoral tool for the campaign of Evo Morales. On October1, 2018, the decision of the International Court of Justice exempts Chile from negotiating with its Bolivian neighbor for access to the Pacific Ocean. Chile has already granted customs facilities to Bolivia in its former ports and does not intend to yield more. The relations between the two countries remain conflictual to date, and it seems that the situation does not lean towards an appeasement.
Luis Arce's challenges
The presidential elections of October 18, 2020 mark the return to power of the Movement towards Socialism (MAS). Luis Arce, nicknamed "Lucho" by his supporters, will be elected president on November 8, 2020 and will have to preside in the shadow of his cumbersome mentor, former president Evo Morales. Accused of electoral fraud by the opposition during the March 2019 elections, he resigned from his post after losing the support of the army and the police. Jeanine Áñez, a conservative senator who is resolutely opposed to the MAS, declared herself interim president from 2019 to 2020. In forced exile in neighbouring countries since his resignation, Evo announced his return to Bolivia as soon as he learned of the MAS victory in the elections. In March 2021, an arrest warrant was issued by the Bolivian prosecutor's office against Jeanine Áñez and members of her cabinet for "sedition, terrorism and conspiracy". The main interested party claims that she is a victim of political persecution.
In his inaugural speech, Luis Arce stated the challenge that awaited him: "We are beginning a new chapter in our history and we want to do so with a government for all, without discrimination of any kind. Our government will seek to rebuild a united country where people can live in peace. Since taking office, the record of his presidency reveals that despite the political crisis of 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic and the high inflation currently affecting the global economy, Bolivia has still managed to maintain significant and steady economic growth, while maintaining one of the lowest inflation rates in the region. As a result, public investments to stimulate the economy and accelerate job creation have been implemented, as well as the creation of policies to ensure access to health and education. Arce's government has taken an inclusive approach to strengthening social safety nets, expanding access to programs such as income transfers, food aid and support for small farmers. During his presidency, he also passed an energy transition law aimed at achieving a significant share of renewable energy in the national energy mix. Under these circumstances, opinion polls indicate a relatively high level of popularity for President Arce. According to a January 2022 survey conducted by the research firm Mori, he had an approval rating of 51 percent, while 35 percent of respondents said they disapproved of his work as president.
Eva Copa: a new lease on life in politics
On March 7, 2021, Eva Copa was elected mayor of El Alto, the city of about one million inhabitants located in the heights of La Paz, whose population is composed almost entirely of indigenous people. The daughter of Aymara artisans, Eva Copa was born in El Alto in 1987. After being a fierce activist in defense of Alteña youth and women, she entered politics in 2014 as a member of MAS, and became senator of the department of La Paz in 2015. In November 2019, she was elected president of the Chamber of Senators in the Bolivian parliament. Despite her position in the Senate and the strong popular support she enjoys, MAS did not present her as the party's official candidate for mayor of El Alto, a city whose many social movements of its inhabitants greatly facilitated the coming to power of the country's first indigenous president in 2005, a certain Evo Morales. Decided to run for the position, Eva Copa finally presented herself against the will of the party. Evo accused her of treason and complicity with the "coup d'état" he suffered in 2019, and she was dismissed from the MAS. During the campaign, which she carried out under the aegis of the Jallalla La Paz party, she showed her pride in belonging to the Aymara community and campaigned for a more active participation of women in politics, without denying her previous political struggles with the MAS. The media refers to this political struggle as "Eva" versus "Evo". The result of the elections was a brutal blow to the influence of Morales' party on the politics of El Alto, the historical stronghold of MAS: Eva won nearly 68% of the votes, far ahead of Evo's party with 19%. This is the first time that a mayor of one of the country's major cities has won an election with such a gap. This vote reflects the desire of the population of El Alto to put an end to the politics of privilege and the omnipresence of Evo Morales in the choices of the party. Eva Copa represents the new generation of Bolivia's indigenous political landscape, an important figure to look to in the future.
