The President of Bolivia, Luis Arcemade changes to the police leadership this Monday 14th, amid political tension due to demonstrations and blockades that supporters of the former president Evo Morales carry out to avoid their eventual capture.
Arce swore in General Augusto Russo as general commander of the police, and Guillermo Chacón as deputy commander. The new heads of the country’s nine departments were also announced.
During the event, the Minister of Government (Interior), Eduardo del Castillo, emphasized that the police “have the constitutional mission” of “defending the people from any threat that could harm their integrity”.
The high command should have taken office at the beginning of the year, but disputes in Congress between Arce and Morales’ allies delayed the generals’ promotions.
The two politicians are locked in a fierce dispute over the current presidential candidacy for the 2025 elections. Tension has escalated.
Morales, who in mid-September led a massive protest against his former minister’s government, faces a likely arrest order from the Public Ministry, which is investigating him for the alleged abuse of a minor with whom he allegedly had a daughter in 2016.
If the MP finally orders Morales’ arrest, it is the police who must comply with the measure.
This Monday, dozens of Morales supporters blocked important roads in the departments of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba – where the former president spends most of his time – to “protect the freedom, integrity and (prevent) the kidnapping” of their leader , according to a public manifesto.
The peasants warned that they will block all of Bolivia in the context of their indefinite protest.
