The candidate for the vice presidency for Alianza Popular, Mariana Prado, acknowledged that her participation on the ticket with Andrónico Rodríguez depended on a single condition. She stated that she would not agree to be part of any campaign directed against Evo Morales.
In a television interview, she revealed that this was her first demand when invited by the president of the Senate. "If it's against Evo, don't count on me", Prado declared. She added that she doesn't wish to become involved in MAS's internal conflicts.
Prado, former Minister of Planning under Morales, emphasized that the relationship with Evo was key in her decision. She considered that the campaign should maintain a neutral or favorable stance toward the former president.
She also stated that her continued participation depended on the political identity of the alliance. She said that she did not want to appear as a candidate for parties that did not share her socialist principles. She indicated that she even considered not running until she knew the acronym that would support them.
A surprising invitation
The former chief of staff to García Linera revealed that the invitation took her by surprise. Rodríguez contacted her while she was in Buenos Aires. They had a phone conversation in which he explained the idea of forming a ticket.
According to Prado, she insisted that the political line had to be clear before any announcement. Only after agreeing that there would be no confrontation with Morales did she accept the offer.
Prado recalled that at the time of the invitation there was still no defined acronym. She said that she was not willing to lend herself to an improvised candidacy. Laughing, she assured that she was concerned about appearing as a candidate for ADN or another conservative force.
Her demand was to have ideological clarity and a like-minded political instrument. This concern was one of the two key elements for her acceptance.
Criticism for her statements
Prado's statements caused a wave of criticism from various sectors. The Vice Minister of Communication, Gabriela Alcón, replied that "no one is above the Constitution".
She questioned the prioritization of personal pacts over pending judicial processes. She pointed out that Evo Morales still has an arrest warrant that has not been executed for security reasons. She stated that there must be justice without privileges for anyone.
Senator Henry Montero accused Prado and Rodríguez of covering up Morales's crimes. He stated that what the candidate said implies that the victims will not have justice.
He criticized what he called submission to Evo within a new electoral formula. He said that this type of agreement reinforces impunity. He added that for this reason "the people must not vote for dictators".
Former prefect Manfred Reyes Villa also reacted harshly. He stated that this position only confirms that Rodríguez still answers to Morales. In his view, Evo continues to govern from the shadows.
