Elections: Arce offered the vice presidency to Andrónico Rodríguez

The Masista regime shamelessly restarted its electoral strategy and decided to offer the Vice Presidency to Andrónico Rodríguez. The proposal was confirmed by the leader Vidal Gómez, who assured that there are already contacts with the president of the Senate to consolidate his candidacy as a running mate of Luis Arce. This decision sidelines the current vice president, David Choquehuanca, whose political future is uncertain within the ruling party.

The Arcista bloc of peasants resumed this idea that they have been promoting since August 2024 and put it back on the table during the carnival. According to Gómez, a political team is already working on consolidating this ticket. The official nomination is expected to take place on April 11 at a national meeting in the city of El Alto.

So far, the social organizations allied with Arcismo have suspended the proclamation of the 'Lucho-David' ticket, which was victorious in 2020. The fragmentation within the ruling party has caused uncertainty. Currently within MAS there are at least a dozen pre-candidates seeking to join the presidential ticket for the general elections in August.

The list of pre-candidates in MAS includes figures like the Minister of Government, Eduardo Del Castillo, and the deputy Deysi Choque, both backed by social sectors of Santa Cruz. Additionally, other names appear such as the union leader Mario Seña and President Luis Arce himself, who enjoys the support of sectors that value his management in the country's industrialization.

The spokesperson for the Unity Pact, Vidal Gómez, emphasized that Arce remains the favorite within the Arcista bloc. Likewise, this leader shamelessly highlighted the leadership in the face of the economic crisis and the push for lithium industrialization. However, the lack of consensus within the ruling party has led to the search for alternatives that can garner greater electoral support.

In this context, Andrónico Rodríguez has been proclaimed as a presidential candidate by some sectors, such as the Ucuchi Subcentral in Sacaba. This decision contradicts the stance of Evo Morales, who declared himself the sole candidate of his faction, despite being disqualified. The fragmentation within MAS has intensified and highlights the internal struggle for control of the party and its electoral future.

Does Chapare have the final say?

Rodríguez, however, has reiterated on several occasions that he is not seeking a presidential candidacy. In various public statements, he has assured that his only candidate is Evo Morales and that he only fulfills his role as president of the Senate. This stance raises doubts about his willingness to accept the Vice Presidency in the Arcista ticket.

A month ago, the legal advisor of the Senate, Israel Quino, declared that Rodríguez's candidacy  was not ruled out and would depend on the grassroots. Nevertheless, Rodríguez has insisted that he doesn't have political operators and considers himself an organic leader within the movement.

The uncertainty about the definition of the MAS ticket remains, as the date of the national meeting approaches. The lack of consensus within the ruling party and the dispersion of pre-candidacies may affect its ability to compete strongly in the August elections.

Meanwhile, Morales faces an adverse scenario after losing control of the MAS acronym and being disqualified from the election. His faction managed to rent the acronym of the Frente Para la Victoria (FPV). The authorities of this party have announced that Morales would be their sole candidate.

The political landscape in Masismo remains marked by internal divisions. The decision to exclude Choquehuanca from the equation and promote Rodríguez as a possible running mate for Arce reflects the efforts of Arcismo to consolidate its leadership within the regime and project itself more strongly in the electoral contest.

With April 11 as a key date, the organizations allied with Arcismo continue their negotiations to define the ticket. Instead of responding with concrete solutions to the population's problems, Masismo is embroiled in internal disputes. This only evidences their desperation to hold onto power, even when reality shows that their legitimacy and support are crumbling.