
Supporters of Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce celebrate in La Paz on October 19, 2020. (Photo: Aizar Raldes/AFP via Getty Images)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Supporters of Bolivia's leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce celebrate in La Paz on October 19, 2020. (Photo: Aizar Raldes/AFP via Getty Images)
Following socialist candidate Luis Arce's resounding victory in Bolivia's high-stakes and closely watched presidential election, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday applauded the people of the South American nation for persisting in their "difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy" in the wake of last year's military coup that ousted Evo Morales and installed a vicious right-wing regime.
"The Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday's election," tweeted Sanders, who was among the first members of Congress to condemn the military coup, which was openly applauded by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers and abetted by the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS).
"As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality," the Vermont senator added, referring to Arce's role in Morales' government. "I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well."
\u201cThe Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday\u2019s election after a difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy. As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality. I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well. https://t.co/YeKGB8gqxq\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1603141502
Exit polls released Monday showed Arce with such a large lead in the contest that Carlos Mesa, Arce's closest competitor, was forced to concede defeat.
"The results from the quick count are overwhelming and very clear," said Mesa, who served as president of Bolivia from 2003 to 2005. "It's a result that we accept and it's a result that we believe, because of the difference between the first and second [finishers], will not be modified when we know the final results."
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Ill.) joined Sanders on Monday in celebrating "the triumph of true democracy" in Bolivia and demanded "justice for those persecuted and killed under the Anez regime," which seized power following the ouster of Morales and promptly unleashed violent military repression against anti-coup demonstrators.
None— Mathis (@Mathis) 1603100825
As The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald wrote Monday afternoon, "It looks as though the margin of victory delivered to [the Movement Toward Socialism party] by the Bolivian people was so stunning, so decisive, that there are few options left for the retrograde forces--in Bolivia, Washington, and Brussels--which tried to destroy the country's democracy."
"Anyone who believes in the fundamentals of democracy, regardless of ideology, should be cheering the Bolivians who sacrificed so much to restore their right of self-rule and hoping that the stability and prosperity they enjoyed under Morales expands even further under his first democratically elected successor," Greenwald added.
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just hours away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Following socialist candidate Luis Arce's resounding victory in Bolivia's high-stakes and closely watched presidential election, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday applauded the people of the South American nation for persisting in their "difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy" in the wake of last year's military coup that ousted Evo Morales and installed a vicious right-wing regime.
"The Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday's election," tweeted Sanders, who was among the first members of Congress to condemn the military coup, which was openly applauded by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers and abetted by the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS).
"As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality," the Vermont senator added, referring to Arce's role in Morales' government. "I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well."
\u201cThe Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday\u2019s election after a difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy. As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality. I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well. https://t.co/YeKGB8gqxq\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1603141502
Exit polls released Monday showed Arce with such a large lead in the contest that Carlos Mesa, Arce's closest competitor, was forced to concede defeat.
"The results from the quick count are overwhelming and very clear," said Mesa, who served as president of Bolivia from 2003 to 2005. "It's a result that we accept and it's a result that we believe, because of the difference between the first and second [finishers], will not be modified when we know the final results."
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Ill.) joined Sanders on Monday in celebrating "the triumph of true democracy" in Bolivia and demanded "justice for those persecuted and killed under the Anez regime," which seized power following the ouster of Morales and promptly unleashed violent military repression against anti-coup demonstrators.
None— Mathis (@Mathis) 1603100825
As The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald wrote Monday afternoon, "It looks as though the margin of victory delivered to [the Movement Toward Socialism party] by the Bolivian people was so stunning, so decisive, that there are few options left for the retrograde forces--in Bolivia, Washington, and Brussels--which tried to destroy the country's democracy."
"Anyone who believes in the fundamentals of democracy, regardless of ideology, should be cheering the Bolivians who sacrificed so much to restore their right of self-rule and hoping that the stability and prosperity they enjoyed under Morales expands even further under his first democratically elected successor," Greenwald added.
Following socialist candidate Luis Arce's resounding victory in Bolivia's high-stakes and closely watched presidential election, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday applauded the people of the South American nation for persisting in their "difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy" in the wake of last year's military coup that ousted Evo Morales and installed a vicious right-wing regime.
"The Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday's election," tweeted Sanders, who was among the first members of Congress to condemn the military coup, which was openly applauded by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers and abetted by the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS).
"As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality," the Vermont senator added, referring to Arce's role in Morales' government. "I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well."
\u201cThe Bolivian people made their voices heard in yesterday\u2019s election after a difficult, year-long fight to restore democracy. As minister of economy, Mr. Arce helped slash poverty and inequality. I congratulate him on his victory and wish him well. https://t.co/YeKGB8gqxq\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1603141502
Exit polls released Monday showed Arce with such a large lead in the contest that Carlos Mesa, Arce's closest competitor, was forced to concede defeat.
"The results from the quick count are overwhelming and very clear," said Mesa, who served as president of Bolivia from 2003 to 2005. "It's a result that we accept and it's a result that we believe, because of the difference between the first and second [finishers], will not be modified when we know the final results."
U.S. Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-Ill.) joined Sanders on Monday in celebrating "the triumph of true democracy" in Bolivia and demanded "justice for those persecuted and killed under the Anez regime," which seized power following the ouster of Morales and promptly unleashed violent military repression against anti-coup demonstrators.
None— Mathis (@Mathis) 1603100825
As The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald wrote Monday afternoon, "It looks as though the margin of victory delivered to [the Movement Toward Socialism party] by the Bolivian people was so stunning, so decisive, that there are few options left for the retrograde forces--in Bolivia, Washington, and Brussels--which tried to destroy the country's democracy."
"Anyone who believes in the fundamentals of democracy, regardless of ideology, should be cheering the Bolivians who sacrificed so much to restore their right of self-rule and hoping that the stability and prosperity they enjoyed under Morales expands even further under his first democratically elected successor," Greenwald added.