Former Bolivian President Evo Morales reported surviving an assassination attempt on Sunday after unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire on his vehicle.
Morales was unharmed in the incident, which has added tension to the ongoing power struggle between him and current President Luis Arce, his former ally turned rival.
The 65-year-old former leader accused Arce’s administration of orchestrating the violence as part of a campaign to push him out of politics.
The confrontation highlights a growing divide within the ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, with Morales and Arce competing for leadership ahead of next year’s elections.
The Morales-aligned faction of MAS called the incident “clear evidence that we are facing a fascist government” and claimed that two cars with heavily armed men in black ambushed Morales’ convoy, with bullets reportedly passing “centimeters” from his head.
President Arce condemned the attack and called for an investigation, posting on X that “violent practices in politics must be condemned.” Deputy Security Minister Roberto Rios, however, suggested a possible “self-attack,” hinting that Morales might have staged the incident for political gain.
“Morales is seeking confrontation and violence on the streets for political interests and to secure impunity,” Rios stated. Authorities are actively investigating the incident.
