La Derecha Diario Luis Arce begged the left for unity: Cocaleros conditioned it on Evo
Arce expressed concern about the results of the polls that anticipate a dramatic fall of the MAS regime
Socialist Luis Arce openly implored for left-wing unity ahead of the August elections. He said that the government can be a "catalyst" for the divided fronts.
He did so after polls revealed a drastic drop in preference for MAS candidates. None surpasses 10 percent. Andrónico Rodríguez, for example, fell by more than six points in just one month.
Arce indicated that he will summon all left-wing leaders. His goal is to avoid an imminent defeat in the August elections.
He suggested that it is an "obligation" to consolidate a single socialist bloc. His message sought to appease the sectors that distanced themselves from Masismo. However, it ended up exacerbating the rejection from the Evista wing.
Evista rejection
From Evo Morales's circle, they replied harshly. Senator Leonardo Loza made unity conditional on Morales's eligibility.
According to Loza, without Evo there is no left nor possibility of convergence. "Beyond that, it's just rhetoric", he stated. The Evista faction considers Arce's leadership illegitimate.
Evo Morales also rejected the presidential proposal. He said that unity can't be discussed while covering up betrayals. He stated that the people voted for a left with principles.
He then accused Arce of taking MAS from 55 percent to 1 percent. According to him, the current government doesn't represent the true left.
Other Evista leaders also disqualified the call. Deputy Héctor Arce said that the call evidences electoral failure. He indicated that MAS candidates will not even reach 11 percent.
Additionally, he mentioned that the government has already assumed it lost the elections. For him, the unity message is just a political maneuver.
El Alto councilwoman Wilma Alanoca was even more critical. She asserted that Arce should summon the right. She said that his "real bloc" is the traditional opposition.
She also accused the president of making deals with his supposed adversaries. She blamed him for guaranteeing impunity through those agreements. She stated that Evo represents the only popular alternative.
Data anticipates the regime's fall
Recent polls show that candidates emerging from Masismo have stagnated. Eduardo del Castillo barely rose from 1.69 to 1.92 percent. Eva Copa dropped from 1.41 to 1.14 percent.
Only Andrónico Rodríguez had relevant figures. However, despite that, Rodríguez fell from third to fourth place, with a noticeable drop. The trend is negative for the entire MAS bloc.
Félix Patzi, from Alianza Popular, proposed a practical unity. He said that support should be concentrated on the best positioned. He considers that Andrónico could make it to the second round.
However, he believes that the opponent would be Tuto Quiroga, not Samuel Doria Medina. His proposal seeks efficiency rather than ideological identity.
MAS spokespersons insist that their candidate is Eduardo del Castillo. They assure that all social organizations support him. They mention the interculturals, the Bartolinas, and the CSUTCB.
However, the poll numbers do not support that version. Popular support seems increasingly elusive.
'Opposition' seeks to capture the undecided vote
The opposition, meanwhile, is intensifying its campaign. Samuel Doria Medina leads with more than 21 percent. Tuto Quiroga follows with just over 20. Manfred Reyes Villa appears in third place.
All of them are betting on the so-called "useful vote". They seek to capture the undecided and displace the laggards.
From Alianza Unidad, their spokesperson said that the campaign will be doubled. He stated that they want to widen the lead. He criticized the candidates who "have no chance".
Additionally, he emphasized that an opposition government needs a legislative majority. The goal is to consolidate a bloc with parliamentary weight.
Libre's spokesperson also trusts in Tuto's rise. He asserted that his territorial presence is key. He said that the other candidacies will soon fall.
He also anticipated that the electorate will migrate toward the stronger options. Meanwhile, Súmate's spokesperson highlighted Manfred's growth.
The figures for blank votes and indecision also increased. The blank vote rose by almost five points in one month. The null vote dropped slightly and the undecided went from 3 to 5 percent.
These margins could still define the final result. The fragmentation of the left apparently has benefited the candidates who claim to be the opposition to socialism.
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