Jorge Tuto Quiroga announced on Thursday his decision to withdraw from the survey mechanism agreed upon by six opposition forces, stating that conducting these studies now would be illegal. According to his view, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal could use them as an excuse to disqualify any candidate. He confirmed that he will continue in the presidential race, but outside of that process.
The false unity had defined a system of three private surveys to choose the single candidate. Quiroga stated that he insisted on conducting them before the official call of the TSE, but he was not heard. He recalled the case of Beni in 2015, where a bloc was disqualified for commenting on a survey and indicated that he is not naive and that there are actors who want to take him out of the game.
Samuel Doria Medina was one of the first to criticize Quiroga and said that his attitude is like that of a team that doesn't want to play and leaves the league. He assured that the surveys do not violate any rules because they will not be released. He stated that even TSE members clarified that this type of study is allowed and that its implementation was agreed upon by all members.
Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of Santa Cruz, also spoke out. He regretted Quiroga's departure from the agreed mechanism, recalled that the bloc was born from the citizen mandate and must be sustained in unity. He said that this cause is above personal egos and assured that they will continue with the surveys.
Carlos Mesa, former president and spokesperson for the bloc, called for avoiding more ruptures. On his social media, he called for calm and stated that the country's interests must be above any internal differences. He insisted that the work must continue without rest, hinting that he will speak with Quiroga to rebuild the dialogue.
Andrea Barrientos, senator of Comunidad Ciudadana, was harsher and labeled Quiroga's stance as a political whim. She said that he is the only one of six actors who opposes the surveys. She criticized him for breaking the agreement signed by everyone and asked him to decide if he wants unity or protagonism.
According to Barrientos, the argument of illegality no longer has support, she recalled that there is a Constitutional Court ruling that nullifies article 136 of the electoral law. That article was the only one that allowed disqualification due to surveys and added that the agreed mechanism includes cross-auditing among the polling companies. Therefore, there is no room for doubts or manipulations.
Does the false unity fear the decision of the population?
