García Linera indicated that Morales's government extorted businessmen to strengthen its authoritarian regime
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The former dictator Evo Morales replied with indignation to the statements of his former vice president, Álvaro García Linera. The former MAS authority revealed that during his administration, businessmen were pressured to bring dollars into the country.
Morales emphatically denied these accusations and maintained that his administration never acted with coercion. "We never grabbed businessmen by the neck. We never took companies," he assured on his radio program.
The cocalero leader highlighted that his government achieved dollar liquidity thanks to nationalizations, coordinating with the private sector. "We want big businessmen, not dwarfs," he noted. He also mentioned that he asked them to take on projects so that profits would stay in Bolivia.
However, former vice president García Linera presented a different version at a conference in Argentina. According to him, in 2006 the State had a monopoly on dollars and could regulate their price. Currently, he indicated that reserves are in the hands of private businessmen who keep 90% of their currency abroad.
"If the State no longer has dollars, what do you do as a government? You grab the private sector by the neck and demand their dollars or take their companies. We did it in 2006," García Linera declared. His words sparked a strong debate in the political sphere in the country.
The former president Morales flatly rejected this statement and hinted that his former running mate seeks to damage his image. "I don't know if Álvaro makes these statements to ruin us," he expressed. He also insisted that his administration never applied undue pressure on the private sector.
García Linera's statements caused immediate reactions. The Minister of Economy, Marcelo Montenegro, questioned his stance and recalled that, when he was vice president, he did not apply a similar measure.
"It's easy to give advice from Argentina," he commented. He highlighted that the current government has opted for agreements with exporters to improve the flow of currency. However, some sectors have denounced that the government conditions their exports.
Meanwhile, former president Jorge "Tuto" Quiroga also reacted harshly. He warned that, if he comes to power, he will push for an investigation to recover the funds that, according to him, Morales and García Linera diverted. "Instead of talking about grabbing exporters by the neck, they should keep their own necks safe," he sentenced.
Quiroga announced that he will propose a law for those involved in corruption to return state money. "We will give them three to four months to come clean and reveal how much they stole." he announced. His stance was supported by opposition sectors demanding accountability from the MAS government.
Is authoritarianism necessary for MAS?
Las ex autoridades mencionan reiteradamente la nacionalización.
Analyst Paul Antonio Coca also criticized García Linera. He stated that his declarations reflect a lack of understanding of business reality. "When you've never run a business or risked your own money, these kinds of comments arise," he noted on his social media.
Other political actors also joined the debate. Former president Jeanine Áñez recalled García Linera's history and accused him of having participated in corruption alongside Morales. "Now he returns with his misdeeds to continue robbing those who generate jobs," she stated.
Meanwhile, businessman Branko Marinkovic lashed out against the economic model proposed by García Linera. "They live off the effort of others and destroy those who produce. Instead of adjusting state waste, they propose squeezing the productive sector," he commented on his social media.
Deputy Elena Pachachute demanded that García Linera explain the destination of the nationalization money. "Before talking about squeezing businessmen, he should account for the resources he managed," she noted.
García Linera's statements expose the authoritarian practices that marked Evo Morales's government. They also reveal how former authorities unapologetically vindicate them. Justifying extreme pressure on the private sector and concentrating economic power in the hands of the State reflects a vision that prioritizes political control over sustainable development.
