This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
At least 32 people have lost their lives in the violence that erupted following the disputed October 20 election. The situation has been exacerbated by severe fuel and food shortages in La Paz and other cities due to blockades.
On November 24, Congress gave the green light for a new ballot without Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president who had been seeking a fourth term after nearly 14 years in power.
According to reports, Morales claimed victory in the disputed election, but opposition groups alleged that the election had been rigged, leading to weeks of violent street protests.
Following his November 10 resignation after losing the support of the military, Morales fled to Mexico, where he was granted political asylum.
Right-wing Senate speaker Jeanine Anez, who declared herself interim leader after Morales quit, signed the bill into law on November 24, vowing "clean, just and transparent" elections.
"We are going to recover democracy with democracy," Anez said at the government palace.
The new law annuls the results of the October 20 vote and allows for new elections. It also bars candidates who served in both of the two previous terms from seeking re-election for the same position, effectively preventing Morales from contesting the presidency in the new ballot.
The next step will be for Congress to agree on a new seven-member electoral court, after members of the previous panel were removed for allegedly manipulating results.
The tribunal will be tasked with setting a date for the new vote, which must be held within 120 days.
