Ruth Nina's lawyer compared her death threats to the lyrics of the national anthem.

Ruth Nina, a self-confessed admirer of former dictator Evo Morales, attempted to justify her threats against the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. In a conference, the PAN-Bol leader invoked freedom of expression to defend her controversial words.

She also claimed that her phrase "they will count the dead, not the votes" was part of a revolutionary speech. Her lawyer reinforced that idea and compared her statement to phrases from the National Anthem. He said that it's like saying "to die rather than live as slaves".

The jurist also invoked other expressions to support Nina's defense. He cited phrases such as "homeland or death" and even famous quotes about political violence.

According to him, these are common metaphors in passionate speeches. He questioned the attempt to criminalize words with ideological or symbolic weight. In his view, the Prosecutor's Office seeks to curtail freedom of thought.

The case arose after statements made by Nina at a meeting in Lauca Ñ. At that event, she said that on election day, the dead would be counted, not the votes. That phrase was rejected by various political and social sectors.

María Leonila Galindo, from CONADE, was the one who filed the criminal complaint. She accused the leader of inciting hatred and crime.

Rejection of the statements 

The Minister of Government, Roberto Ríos, publicly condemned Nina's words. He stated that her remarks lack all responsibility. He called for the Prosecutor's Office and the Judicial Branch to act firmly.

He also maintained that a precedent must be set to stop these speeches. He asserted that political threats can't be allowed to become normalized.

Ruth Nina was supposed to testify before the Cochabamba Prosecutor's Office this Friday. However, she did not appear at the scheduled hearing. She argued that the Cercado court had already declared itself incompetent.

According to her version, the case was transferred to the jurisdiction of Shinahota. For this reason, neither she nor her lawyer attended the summons.

Meanwhile, the National Committee for the Defense of Democracy held a vigil. Its members demanded an immediate arrest warrant against Nina.

They denounced that the leader uses revolutionary rhetoric as a shield. They claimed that this is not an act of freedom of expression. They consider that it incites electoral violence.

During her conference, Nina launched attacks against her accusers. She called the members of CONADE "failed politicians". She called Lizeth Beramendi a "political corpse".

She also disqualified other opponents such as José Manuel Ormachea and Alberto Astorga. She publicly challenged them to a face-to-face debate.

Nina challenged her detractors 

In a defiant tone, Nina extended her "hand" to her detractors. She said that she is willing to speak with those who accuse her.

She then added a provocative phrase at the end of her message. "Here is Ruth Nina, and if this is not enough, then kill me, hang me", she stated. The phrase caused further controversy and criticism on social media.

The leader asserted that she is not fleeing from justice. She promised that she will appear before any valid summons. However, she insisted that the process was mishandled from the beginning.

She also maintained that there is political persecution against her. She claimed that her only crime was delivering a revolutionary speech.

To defend herself, Nina said that she will now carry a dictionary under her arm. She argued that her words have been misinterpreted by political interests. She indicated that she represents the sentiment of social sectors aligned with former dictator Evo Morales.

She denied having committed crimes and accused the Government of criminalizing ideas. She said that Bolivia no longer respects freedom of opinion.

Metaphors to justify violence

The Ministry of Government insists that justice must act. Ríos reiterated that the investigation must be rigorous and uncompromising. He said that the Police are ready to execute orders if necessary.

He then called to not underestimate the impact of violent rhetoric on society. He added that democracy must not tolerate threats.

The criminal proceedings are still in the preliminary phase. The case was officially referred to the judicial district of Shinahota. The Public Prosecutor's Office is expected to set a new date to take Nina's statement.

Despite the criticism, Nina shows no signs of retracting. She insists that her speech was symbolic and legitimate.

Her detractors, on the other hand, demand exemplary punishment. They say that her words put the security of the electoral process at risk. They also warn that impunity must not be allowed.

This case has sparked a debate about the limits of political expression. While some see censorship, others see veiled threats.

Ruth Nina has further polarized political actors. Her defense relies on patriotic metaphors that many consider absurd.