Santa Cruz Activists Confronted the Fpv President for Supporting a 'pedophile'

Santa Cruz de la Sierra was the scene of a strong citizen rejection against Eliseo Rodríguez, leader of the Frente Para la Victoria (FPV), who defended his alliance with Evo Morales ahead of the general elections. In a press conference, Rodríguez was booed and confronted by activists, including Jhovani Ibáñez, representative of the Plataforma Control de Rotondas, who accused him of  betraying Santa Cruz and supporting a "pedophile" and "drug trafficker".

The Plataforma Control de Rotondas is a citizen collective that has expressed its strong opposition to figures linked to the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) and Evo Morales. Their intervention in Rodríguez's conference highlighted  the rejection caused in Santa Cruz sectors by any attempt to support the former dictator, who faces serious questions about his management and judicial history.

The alliance between the FPV and Morales has been labeled as opportunistic and contradictory. Rodríguez, who had previously expressed critical opinions toward Morales, now defends him as the leader capable of "taking the country out of poverty and corruption." This stance has raised doubts about the true interests behind this agreement, as the FPV had never before shown affinity with the coca leader.

The FPV was founded in 2009 by Eliseo Rodríguez Pari and has had a marginal participation in Bolivian politics. In the 2019 elections, its presidential candidate, Israel Rodríguez Calle, obtained just 0.39% of the votes, which shows its scant influence on the electorate. Additionally, the party has been accused of allegedly renting its acronym to different candidates and lacking a clear ideological base, reinforcing the perception that its alliance with Morales responds more to strategic interests than to genuine conviction.

Rodríguez's promise that Morales can solve Bolivia's economic problems has been harshly questioned. During his 14 years in government, Morales left a country with high levels of corruption, a weakened economy, and a growing dependence on drug trafficking, according to reports from experts and opponents. His return to politics as a savior of the economy generates skepticism and rejection in various sectors of the country.

The false national support 

Rodríguez's statements about Morales's supposed support in Bolivia contrast with the reality of his current situation. Far from having majority support, the former president is sheltered in Lauca Ñ, in the Tropic of Cochabamba, a region controlled by his followers and where he remains away from Bolivian justice. Morales is wanted for alleged child abuse, a case that has been documented and reported nationally and internationally.

The FPV has been accused in the past of lacking a solid ideological base and allegedly offering its acronym to candidates with particular interests. In previous elections, its participation was marginal, and now, with its sudden shift toward Morales, questions arise about the real motivations behind this agreement. Political analysts warn that this alliance could respond more to strategic interests than to a genuine conviction about the leadership of the one accused of child abuse.

Morales's presence in Chapare and his apparent inability to move freely within the country also raises questions. Although his close circle insists that he still enjoys popular support, his stay in an area controlled by drug trafficking and his refusal to face the accusations against him highlight the contradictions in his political discourse.

The pact between the FPV and Morales has sparked criticism both in the opposition and within MAS itself. Some officialist sectors consider that Morales no longer represents a viable alternative for the country and that his presence in politics only deepens the divisions within the movement. His alliance with a party without electoral weight reinforces the perception that he is desperately seeking a platform to run again.

 Citizen platforms like Control de Rotondas continue to protest against any attempt to restore a leadership that, far from solving Bolivia's problems, remains embroiled in controversies and legal challenges. Their work reinforces the importance of citizen participation in building a more transparent and responsible future for Bolivia.