The most ruthless ex boyfriend Bolivia

If the current political scandal Bolivia was a soap opera, it might be called "The ruthless ex-boyfriend." The protagonists: a Machiavellian head of state and a young ex-lover that threatens his political ambitions. The plot: she says she will unmask as a monster, but he is determined to cling to power, even if it means jail, defame and silence her and his other critics.

For several months, Bolivians are attached to this real-life drama starring President Evo Morales and his ex-girlfriend, Gabriela Zapata. In late February Morales lost a referendum that would have allowed him to run for a fourth term, partly because of the dismay that generated the news about his ex. As reported, Zapata would have been enriched by representing a Chinese company that received state contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars.

The first episode occurred a few days after the vote. Although initially the Morales rejected any suggestion of influence peddling, authorities arrested and accused Zapata precisely that. Zapata, meanwhile, decided that he would not fall alone.

In a series of interviews he gave from prison, Zapata denounced that had become the scapegoat for a government that has a lot to hide. To begin, he denied the version of Morales on the alleged death of the son they had together. The child, according to Zapata, still alive. "Now I will not keep quiet," he told the newspaper El Deber in March. At this point the truth about the child remains a mystery.

He also promised to reveal details about the evolution of Morales, the first indigenous leader of Bolivia, who went from being a benevolent a man calculating and dangerous man. "Evo Morales was not the monster it is today," Zapata said. The woman and her lawyer also said they have incriminating information on the Minister of the Presidency, Juan Ramon Quintana, the right hand of the president.


Gabriela Zapata in La Paz in February after a judge decided he should remain in prison. Credit Juan Karita / Associated Press
But there are still doubts about whether this information will come to light and if Zapata will have the opportunity to defend and denounce others by name. Last week authorities arrested his lawyer, Eduardo Leon, and his aunt, Pilar Guzman, who had confirmed that the son and Morales Zapata was alive. Leon, a prominent lawyer, recently appeared at a court with a sign saying "political prisoner".

Meanwhile, Morales allies in Congress have been pushing bills that seek to limit freedom of the press and control the use of social networks. Apparently they do not understand that the defeat of Morales in February was the result of embarrassments not of critical coverage. Clearly, they are afraid of the version that Zapata could tell if you have the opportunity to defend himself during a trial.

On Tuesday, Morales announced he will call a new referendum, because, according to him, lost the first on behalf of the "lies" about the case of Zapata. "In the second half we will see who is who," he said.

Spend millions of dollars on a new referendum would represent an abuse of power and an insult to the Bolivians who have already decided that the country needs new leaders. Another campaign will not stop neither the news nor the baffling revelations, which continue discrediting a man who has been in power more than any other president in the hemisphere.

Although it is unclear what the final chapter of this drama, this is no doubt: the cover-up by Morales and his ilk is worse than the crime.