Bolivia’s ruling left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) is being consumed by an internal power struggle that is threatening to rend the party asunder. Tensions between the MAS faction loyal to the government led by President Luis Arce and the faction that backs former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) have been building for a long time. Morales has openly accused cabinet ministers of complicity in corruption and drug trafficking, but on 28 June his party loyalists, known as Evistas, went beyond rhetoric to action, voting with the right-wing opposition to censure the interior minister, Eduardo Del Castillo. Arce responded defiantly, removing Del Castillo in accordance with legislative procedure before promptly re-appointing him. Rather than snuffing out dissidence, his reaction is more likely to inflame internal tensions.End of preview - This article contains approximately 595 words.
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