Rodrigo Paz assured that the arrest of Evo Morales is a matter of time: "Prison will come for him soon"

The president of Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz, assured that the arrest of former president Evo Morales is only a "matter of time" and stated that the coca leader will ultimately answer to Justice for the criminal cases he faces. His statements come amid increasing pressure from the Government on Morales' political stronghold in the Chapare, where he has been sheltered since a warrant for his arrest was issued.

During a public event in southern Cochabamba, supporters of the president began to chant "jail for Evo!" Paz responded by backing those slogans with a phrase that quickly went viral: "He will soon be going to jail". Later, he reiterated that the enforcement of the court order does not depend on a political decision, but on the progress of the State's institutions.

The president also stated that Bolivia cannot accept the existence of territories where the authority of the State is unknown. In that sense, he recalled that his administration has already announced a plan to fully regain control of the Chapare, a region considered the main political and union stronghold of Evo Morales and where the ex-dictator remains protected by allied coca organizations.

Morales faces an arrest warrant for a judicial process related to a case of aggravated human trafficking, in addition to other investigations opened by Bolivian authorities. The former president rejects all accusations and claims that it is a political persecution aimed at preventing his return to public life.

Paz's statements come just weeks after his Government managed to put an end to the largest wave of blockades recorded since he took office. After the lifting of the protests, the Executive began to reinforce the presence of security forces in various parts of the country and announced that it will not allow any group to challenge the authority of the State or impede the enforcement of judicial decisions.

In recent weeks, the political confrontation between the two leaders has intensified. President Paz announced that the ex-dictator must appear before Justice instead of remaining sheltered in his political stronghold.

Although the Executive did not set a date to carry out the arrest, Rodrigo Paz insisted that Evo Morales' judicial situation will ultimately be resolved according to the law. "It's a matter of time," the president reiterated, convinced that the former president will eventually have to appear before the Bolivian courts.