Bolivian President Luis Arce sworn in as socialists regain power: 'We have reclaimed democracy'
Bolivia’s new president, Luis Arce, has vowed to rebuild his country’s battered economy, revive ties with leftwing neighbours and serve one term only, as he prepared to take office after October’s landslide election.
Speaking to the Guardian before his inauguration on Sunday, the UK-educated economist was cautious about characterising his victory as proof that Latin America’s leftwing “pink tide” of the early 2000s was bouncing back after a period of rightwing dominance.
Since 2018 the left has returned to power in Mexico and Argentina, while leftwing economist Andrés Arauz is well placed to win Ecuador’s presidential election in February.
But Arce’s win did represent a resurrection for the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party, which some observers thought was doomed after its figurehead, Evo Morales, was driven abroad last November after what supporters call a US-backed coup.
Arce, 57, a former economy minister under leftist former President Evo Morales, inherits a dire economic situation - with GDP falling 11% this year and unemployment as high as 30% in sectors such as construction.
At: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/08/luis-arce-bolivia-president-elect-left-morales
Bolivian President Luis Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca greet legislators and guests moments after their inaugural today.
His predecessor Jeanine Áñez, who proclaimed herself president during last November's violent coup, has earned plaudits for ultimately yielding to calls for elections.
Arce won the October 18 elections with 55% of the vote, nearly twice the 29% earned by centrist former President Carlos Mesa.
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