The false unity bloc proclaimed Samuel Doria Medina as its presidential candidate this Wednesday. The event took place in the city of La Paz, with figures like Vicente Cuéllar, Amparo Ballivián, and Carlos Alarcón in attendance. The absence of Tuto Quiroga marked the event from the start.
Carlos Mesa, one of the founders of the bloc, announced his definitive departure hours earlier. Through a statement, he said that they reached a deadlock and he understood that it no longer made sense to stay in the bloc. He assured that he had done everything possible to reach an agreement but accused a lack of collective will to compromise.
The bloc was created on December 18 with six leaders: Mesa, Quiroga, Doria Medina, and Camacho were the main faces. Ballivián and Cuéllar later joined, the faction's idea was to face MAS united. Today, that alliance seems like a broken promise.
During the proclamation event, Doria Medina avoided talking about Quiroga. In recent days, both have been involved in a series of statements. The dispute revolved around a survey, Tuto Quiroga questioned its validity and stated that he wouldn't accept the results. He accused Doria of imposing conditions unilaterally.
Efraín Suárez, spokesperson for Creemos, defended the process and assured that they acted with commitment. He said that the bloc remains a real alternative, but acknowledged that not all members agreed. And that there were limits to the willingness to reach a consensus to consolidate the project.
Luis Fernando Camacho, from Chonchocoro prison, supported the bloc's continuity. He sent a letter reaffirming his support for unity and asked his followers to maintain trust. He recalled the 21 days of 2019 as an example of resistance and called for standing firm against the MAS regime.
However, other political actors have a different view. Former pre-candidate Branko Marinkovic said that the bloc no longer exists. He questioned Doria Medina's attitude and stated that the proclamation was an imposition. He also warned about the fragility of the process before the TSE due to questions about its legality.
