Evo Morales called Cronembold a traitor and demanded subordination from his followers.

The former dictator Evo Morales, sheltered in the Tropics of Cochabamba, lashed out against Mario Cronembold. In a recent event, Morales identified him as a traitor and accused him of dividing the Movement for Socialism (MAS) in Warnes. The dispute arises after Cronembold's support for the possible candidacy of Andrónico Rodríguez.

Morales demanded discipline and loyalty from his followers during a meeting in Lauca Ñ. He also asked who the traitor in Warnes was, and the attendees mentioned Dionisio Auca, but the former president rejected that answer.

The coca grower leader insisted that the real traitor was Cronembold and that his group sought to divide MAS. The tension grew when Morales labeled certain leaders as infiltrators that the arcismo would have sent to provoke confrontations.

Cronembold, former mayor of Warnes and former candidate for the governorship of Santa Cruz, had a close relationship with Morales. In 2021, he was Bolivia's ambassador to Paraguay, although his tenure ended abruptly. Now, his support for Andrónico Rodríguez has put him in the crosshairs of the coca grower leader who considers that his support for another political figure threatens the unity of MAS.

The rift between the two became evident when Cronembold questioned the viability of a new candidacy for the former dictator. According to him, Morales won't be able to run due to legal restrictions and argued that MAS needs a plan B in case Morales is disqualified. These statements were not well received by the leader of evismo.

Fidel Surco, secretary of International Relations of MAS, confirmed the installation of campaign houses in Santa Cruz. He also indicated that Cronembold leads the organization in favor of Andrónico Rodríguez and criticized that Rodríguez has not yet made his candidacy official. He stated that the indecision generates uncertainty within the party.

Morales, meanwhile, insists that he is the only legitimate candidate of the so-called popular bloc. He assures that those who support other options seek to fracture the movement. In his recent interventions, he has reiterated that unity and discipline are essential and warns that disloyalty only benefits his political adversaries.

The MAS representative Reynaldo Ezequiel also spoke out against Cronembold, saying that he seeks to be the Vice President of Andronico Rodriguez. "Cronembold's political orgasm is to be Vice President," he stated.

Cronembold replied with harsh criticism of Morales and his entourage, recalling that in 2019 he was imprisoned while the former president left the country. “They took a plane and fled. Who is the traitor?” he questioned.

Is Rodríguez an alternative to narcosocialism?

In this regard, the former mayor assures that his support for Rodríguez is not betrayal, but a strategy in favor of MAS. He also pointed out that Morales doesn't accept opposing opinions and said that three months ago he warned him about his possible disqualification.

According to him, since then he was considered a traitor. Now, he will redouble efforts to promote Rodríguez's candidacy. His goal is to consolidate him as the official candidate of the regime in his effort to maintain control of the country.

The growing influence of Rodríguez is reflected in the appearance of banners with his image. In cities like La Paz, Santa Cruz, and El Alto, large billboards have been placed. In them, citizen groups express their support for his possible candidacy, but Rodríguez has denied being in an electoral campaign.

MAS is going through a moment of internal fracture, while Morales tries to maintain his leadership, other sectors seek to renew the party. The national leadership aligned with Luis Arce has shown openness to other candidacies. In this context, Rodríguez's figure gains prominence in an attempt to maintain the socialist regime.

In Potosí, an event supporting Rodríguez was boycotted by evista sectors. Morales insists that there is no plan B and that he is the only option. However, recent statements and movements within MAS suggest otherwise.

In this scenario, Evo Morales's attitude reflects a centralist and authoritarian vision, where loyalty is measured in terms of absolute subordination. His rejection of any internal dissent evidences the lack of democratic culture within MAS. Andrónico Rodríguez's candidacy doesn't represent a change, but the continuity of a socialist political model subordinated to the dark interests of Chapare.