Coup or No Coup, Bolivia’s Morales Fell From Grace

South America’s longest-serving president, Bolivia’s Evo Morales was part of a wave of leftist leaders who reshaped Latin American politics during the 2000s. Unlike like-minded allies in Venezuela and Cuba, Morales presided over strong economic growth. But he ignored a referendum defeat on presidential term limits, and his effort to secure a fourth term plunged Bolivia into chaos after he claimed victory in an Oct. 20 election plagued with allegations of fraud. An icon for socialist movements across the world, Morales was forced from power Nov. 10 and fled the country a day later.

The opposition refused to accept the results of the election and alleged fraud. They took to the streets in protests that became ever more violent. At least seven people died, and swathes of the country were paralyzed by clashes between opponents and supporters of Morales. Some police joined with the anti-Morales protesters. Matters came to a head after monitors from the Organization of American States published a report Nov. 10 saying that it was “statistically unlikely” that Morales had won by enough votes to avoid a run-off election. Morales initially agreed to another election. But after the armed forces’ chief called on him to step down, Morales resigned, saying he was the victim of a coup.