The upcoming election in Bolivia and the current political landscape in Latin America with Fiona Edwards Solid Ground with John Wight

In this moment of pandemic, the eyes of most in the world are on the upcoming US presidential election on Nov 3. However another historically important election - and perhaps even more important given the stakes - is scheduled to take place in Bolivia on Sunday  October 18. 

This is an election that will test the strength of the right almost two years after it seized power in the country - with the support of the Bolivian military and Washington - from then incumbent President Evo Morales and his MAS (Movement towards Socialism) party.

Morales, now in exile, intends returning to Bolivia to campaign for the MAS candidate for president, Luis Acre, who if the polls are to be believed is poised to return the fortunes of socialism and by extension Bolivia's indigenous majority in the face of right wing intimidation, violence, and repression.

In this context, then, the stakes in Bolivia and also the region truly could not be any higher. Will there be a peaceful transition of power if MAS prevails, or will the right attempt to engineer a second coup in two years and return Bolivia, a country and society transformed by Morales' programme of investment, wealth and land redistribution, and nationalisation, to its prior status as a wholly owned subsidiary of Washington?

Fiona Edwards is specialises on Latin American politics in her work. Her excellent writing can be seen in the pages of the Morning Star newspaper, at The Canary political web magazine, and also accessed via her website: eyesonlatinamerica.com. 



You can also follow her on Twitter @Fio_edwards.