Bolivia police teargas Morales supporters protesting electoral ban

Tensions flared in Bolivia's administrative capital La Paz on Friday as supporters of former President Evo Morales gathered outside the electoral court, demanding his reinstatement as a candidate in this year's presidential race.

Bolivia's constitutional court this week upheld a lower court ruling banning presidents from serving more than two terms, in effect blocking Morales from running for what would be his fourth term.

Clashes erupted between protesters and police, who deployed tear gas and paintballs to disperse the crowd.

"Look at what they are doing to us," said protester Jorge Aduviri. "There are kids here, elderly people, pregnant women."

Among the demonstrators, Indigenous women kneeled in defiance, while others chanted slogans against the current government.

Morales, an Indigenous former coca farmer who led Bolivia for nearly 14 years, departed under a cloud in November 2019 after he ran for an unprecedented fourth term in an election marred by allegations of fraud.

"We don't have money," said demonstrator Flora Quispe. "We want Evo to be president again!"