Bolivia's former leftist President Evo Morales survived an alleged assassination attempt on Sunday after shots were fired at his car. A video circulating online shows Morales unharmed while his driver is bleeding after multiple bullets went through the car's windshield.
In the video, taken by someone in the backseat, Morales appears to be ducking and is heard saying, "Papacho has been shot in the head," referring to his driver.
#BREAKING Bolivia former President Evo Morales survived an assassination attempt
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) October 27, 2024
pic.twitter.com/YWiCyl1rjk
The images show the driver's head and abdomen covered in blood. In the video, the driver continues driving, honking at vehicles while trying to get to safety.
The ex-president appeared on his weekly radio show shortly after the alleged attack, where he said 14 shots were fired at his car while he was being driven through Chaparre, one of his rural strongholds.
Morales also blamed current President Luis Arce for the alleged assassination attempt, claiming he resorted to physical violence after failing to defeat him politically. Morales has vowed to run against Arce in the 2025 presidential elections.
"Arce is going to go down as the worst president in history," Morales said on his radio show. "Shooting a former president is the last straw."
Social media users were quick to share their opinions and observations of the alleged shooting video. Some suggested the incident was a "hoax" orchestrated by Morales to leave the country amid surfaced reports of a possible arrest warrant against him.
"This video is staged," one X user wrote. "He wants to flee, and he doesn't know how to. Just an excuse to leave the country." The user also pointed out multiple inconsistencies, indicating different vehicles were used throughout the video.
Un vídeo de Evo Morales supuestamente siendo tiroteado.
— HispaniaFortius (@HispaniaFortius) October 27, 2024
Este vídeo está preparado y es más falso que Judas. Quiere huir y no sabe como.
Un pretexto para poder salir del país. pic.twitter.com/SJK85HHGoO
Morales later shared a press release via his X account claiming to have "quickly switched vehicles." The press release also claims the alleged assailants "later entered the military barracks and then boarded a helicopter that awaited them at the landing pad."
Other users showed solidarity, saying the attack should be investigated by the international community and the people behind it should be held accountable.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro wrote the following statement:
"All my solidarity with Evo; fascism is rising across Latin America. It's no longer just legal elimination; now they move on to what they've always done: the physical elimination of those who think differently."
Honduran President Xiomara Castro De Zelaya also showed her support, suggesting that it was "urgent" to take the necessary measures to "guarantee his safety"
Condeno el violento atentado perpetrado contra el expresidente @evoespueblo. Es urgente tomar medidas para garantizar su seguridad. Un saludo de @manuelzr toda mi solidaridad. https://t.co/xhCDHiTzr5
— Xiomara Castro de Zelaya (@XiomaraCastroZ) October 27, 2024
Earlier this month, Bolivian prosecutors launched an investigation into accusations that Morales fathered a child with a 15-year-old girl in 2016, classifying their relationship as statutory rape, according to the Associated Press. Morales refused to testify, saying the allegations were politically motivated.
#RTPInforma
— RTP Bolivia (@rtp_bolivia) October 26, 2024
🔴 PERIODISTAS RATIFICAN QUE EVO CONVIVIÓ CON JOVEN BOLIVIANA EN MÉXICO Y ARGENTINA
Dos periodistas, uno que entrevistó y el otro que visitó frecuentemente a Evo Morales, corroboraron que el expresidente durante su estadía en México y Argentina convivió al menos… pic.twitter.com/sXOc7nbuAW
According to AP, Morales has taken refuge in Chaparre since rumors of the arrest warrant against him. His supporters have been guarding the town to protect him from arrest and have blockaded the country's main highway for the past two weeks, disrupting food and fuel supplies.
This comes at a delicate time as Bolivia's citizens face fuel shortages and rising prices for imported goods. Last month Morales led a march against the government's economic mismanagement, which quickly turned violent.
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