After Evo Morales left the military jet that Mexico’s government sent yesterday to retrieve the Bolivian leader who offered his resignation following weeks of protests over allegations of election fraud.
He was greeted by Mexico’s Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard. Welcomed him saying: “You are home and you’re alright.”
Ebrard met Morales at the capital’s airport where he Spoke briefly. He thanked Mexico’s President for “saving his life.” He said he decided to step down for the people.
The effort to bring former Bolivian President Evo Morales to exile in Mexico was very complicated as some countries closed their airspace to the flight.
At first, Bolivian authorities granted permission and the plane set off from Peru Monday. Then Bolivian officials revoked permission and it started back to Peru. Finally Bolivia allowed the plane in. But then Peru wouldn’t allow it to return.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Minister says that caused a delay in taking off from Bolivia. Officials worried that this could put Morales at danger if it had continued.
Paraguay allowed the jet carrying Morales to land.
It was in a press conference when Mexico’s foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard confirmed that Evo Morales accepted the asylum offer from Mexico after he stepped down as Bolivian leader after 14 years in power. Mexico has decided to grant political asylum to Morales in virtue of the urgent situation which he faces in Bolivia.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his administration offered asylum to Morales amid public fury over the election that nearly gave him a 4th term in office.
The offer of asylum was formally extended by Mexican Foreign Minister. Ebrard confirmed that over than 20 bolivian government officials have requested asylum. He explained the decision respond to humanitarian purposes
We speak to journalist Valeria Leon as ousted Bolivian president Evo Morales arrives in Mexico pic.twitter.com/B3XFHEDaa5
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) November 12, 2019
The resignation of Bolivian President polarized governments across the region with presidents denouncing a “coup” and others cheering his exit.
Right-leaning governments in Latin America, among them Colombia and Peru, considered that to ensure new elections would be lawful. Brazil, under far-right nationalist Bolsonaro, went further and welcomed Morales’ fall. Meanwhile, embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose socialist predecessor Hugo Chavez served as a sometime mentor to Morales, told allies to mobilize in support of Morales.
Definitely, Morales’s departure marks a change in Latin American politics. Mexico’s offer of asylum was widely understood as President Obrador making a play for leadership status among the Latin American left.
