International

Bolivia president vows to punish ‘coup’ accused

AFP

Bolivia President Luis Arce vowed in a lively parliamentary session Friday to work tirelessly to punish those accused by the government of an alleged coup in 2019, when former leader Evo Morales lost power.

“We won’t cease… to demand the processing and punishment of those responsible for the coup d’etat,” said Arce during an event to mark the founding of Bolivia on August 6, 1825.

He also claimed there were “international accomplices.”

Leftist Morales resigned as president in November 2019 after weeks of protests against his re-election to an unconstitutional fourth term.

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The then-leader of the Movement for Socialism party that has dominated Bolivian politics for more than 15 years, quit after losing the support of the military following an Organization of American States (OAS) audit that found clear evidence of fraud in his re-election.

Conservative Jeanine Anez assumed the interim presidency, as she was the highest ranking government official not to have resigned.

She retained that role until new elections, which had been twice postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, were organized a year later.

– ‘Illegitimate and violent acts’ –

Those who provoked the fall of Morales, “must respond to the courts for the illegal, illegitimate and violent acts perpetrated against the people, democracy and the political constitution of the state,” said Arce, who also represents MAS.

He was referring to clashes between MAS supporters and security forces following the resignation of Morales.

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Thirty-five people have died in total in clashes between MAS supporters and opponents following the 2019 election.

Centrist former president Carlos Mesa hit out at Arce on social media for pandering to Morales “and his obsession to seek power at any cost.”

In February, the MAS-dominated congress gave political amnesty to those prosecuted for acts of violence in the chaos that followed the election.

Anez and several of her interim ministers, as well as ex-military and police chiefs, have been detained since March, as the government seeks to have them prosecuted for the alleged coup.

Just before her arrest, Anez tweeted: “The political persecution has begun.”

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The government claims regional right-wing allies of Anez, such as Ecuador’s then-president Lenin Moreno (2017-2021) and Mauricio Macri (2015-2019) of Argentina, had sent weapons to Bolivia.

They also claim the European Union, Catholic Church and former Bolivian presidents Mesa (2003-2005) and conservative Jorge Quiroga (2001-2002) were part of a conspiracy to oust Morales and replace him with Anez.

The EU has rejected the accusation.

Anez, a former senator, only took power because the vice-president and presidents of both houses of congress — all MAS party members — had also resigned.

The parliamentary session on Friday was interrupted several times by rival politicians shouting at each other.

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The day before had seen fresh clashes between government supporters and opponents in La Paz.

International

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.