With only 1% support, Luis Arce expressed his desire to win the elections.

This Saturday in the Cochabamba municipality of San Benito, the socialist Luis Arce was proclaimed as the presidential candidate of the Movement for Socialism (MAS). The proclamation was organized by social sectors of the arcista wing, especially irrigators and farmers. Ariel Linares, representative of the Federation of Irrigation Organizations (Fedecor), highlighted Arce as the candidate of the "bicentennial 2025-2030."

During his speech, Arce thanked the support of social organizations and reaffirmed his intention to win the elections again. He stated that his government has worked with commitment, said that MAS remains a political instrument of the organizations and not of personal interests. Arce expressed that the struggle continues and that he trusts in the support of the people, his words were acclaimed by the attendees.

The event had been announced as a gathering to support his administration, but it ended up being a formal political proclamation act. Representatives from at least fifteen municipalities of the Cochabamba high valley were present. Leaders aligned with the regime highlighted the works executed by Arce.

The peasant leader Hugo Casillas, from the Confederation of Peasant Workers, stated that the proclamation represents a new stage within MAS. He affirmed that they now submit to a leadership that is not authoritarian and that the party has regained its internal democracy. He rejected the influence of Evo Morales.

Arce took the opportunity to launch criticisms at theLegislative, accusing some parliamentarians of blocking credits he considers key for the economy. He pointed out that there are deputies who prioritize personal interests over national welfare. He also denounced attempts of boycott and destabilization and insisted on the need to renew the Legislative Assembly.

"We have a great opportunity in these elections," he said and insisted that those who hinder the country's development must be changed. He shamelessly defended his disastrous administration plagued with irregularities. Arce indicated that his economic model seeks to generate employment and reduce poverty, also labeling the opposition as neoliberal.

During the event, the questioned Minister of Public Works, Edgar Montaño, intervened, stating that all the department's municipalities were present. He assured that MAS has a solid base and recalled that the official candidacy will be defined in a national assembly in May. He acknowledged that the proclamation responds to a local dynamic of "arcismo."

The San Benito Municipality called the event in advance, the activity took place early in the local coliseum. Dozens of neighborhood and peasant collectives arrived at the place from dawn. There was music, flags, and speeches before the president's intervention.

How does Luis Arce intend to win?

Meanwhile, opposition sectors harshly criticized the proclamation. Deputy Alejandro Reyes described the act as the beginning of an "electoral fraud". He pointed out that Arce only has 1% in voting intention.

He accused the government of manipulating the democratic process to stay in power and said the candidacy lacks legitimacy. Reyes warned that MAS uses state resources for its campaign. He also denounced the use of public media and documentaries to rewrite recent history.

He also pointed out that MAS tries to victimize itself and justify its permanence. According to him, the support from the bases is weakened and doesn't reflect the true sentiment of the country. He called for the unity of the opposition bloc.

The parliamentarian also questioned the ignoring of corruption in Arce's administration and assured that there are complaints that have not been investigated. He criticized the lack of transparency in public works and state contracts. He reiterated that MAS acts as if it had power secured and demanded that the will of the people at the polls be respected.

Despite these accusations, the president appeared confident in winning again, in his speech he emphasized that the people are organized and aware. He rejected the accusations of fraud and corruption. He ended his intervention by calling for unity and commitment from his followers.

The closing of the act in San Benito reveals Arce's eagerness and the masismo strategy to cling to power despite minimal citizen support. The early proclamation, without national consensus or clear internal election, evidences a political urgency that could hide darker intentions.

Distrust grows over the use of public resources, the control of social sectors, and the narrative of the supposed "coup," which seeks to rewrite history. In this context, it can't be ruled out that the ruling party attempts to manipulate the electoral process to ensure its permanence. The shadow of fraud looms again over an already weakened democracy.