Bolivia to Hold Judicial Elections on Sunday
Distribution of electoral material to Bolivian polling stations. Dec. 12, 2024. X/ @vision360_bo
December 12, 2024 Hour: 1:40 pm
The judicial elections will be fully conducted in only 4 out of 9 regions: La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, and Chuquisaca.
On Sunday, 7.3 million Bolivians are eligible to directly elect new magistrates for the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), the Constitutional Tribunal (TCP), the Agro-Environmental Tribunal, and the Council of the Judiciary from among 94 candidates.
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Previously, this Andean nation held judicial elections in 2011 and 2017. To understand the significance of this democratic event, here are some key details:
Elections Canceled in 2023
The elections were canceled in 2023 due to legal challenges brought before constitutional chambers, which twice ordered the suspension of the candidate selection process in the Legislative Assembly.
Adding to this were internal divisions within the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, which was experiencing fractures due to a rift between former President Evo Morales (2006–2019) and current Bolivian President Luis Arce.
In September 2023, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) dismissed the possibility of holding elections that year because the Legislative Assembly failed to send the list of selected candidates.
Controversial Extension of Magistrates’ Terms
At the end of 2023, magistrates of the Constitutional Tribunal extended their terms, as well as those of judges in other courts across the country, citing the need to avoid a “power vacuum” until new elections could be held. However, their mandates had officially ended at the beginning of the year.
In January 2024, the extension of the magistrates’ terms triggered protests from the opposition. Meanwhile, social and political organizations loyal to Morales blocked roads for 11 days, demanding the resignation of the judges.
The conflict was resolved through a multi-party negotiation that resulted in the approval of a new election call. In early February, after disputes in Parliament were settled, President Arce enacted the law calling for judicial elections.
The new law adjusted the timeline for calling, presenting, selecting, and organizing the electoral process, extending it from 80 to 150 days to ensure all stages could be completed.
Judicial Struggle
The selection of candidates in the Legislative Assembly faced further legal challenges, some of which received favorable rulings. However, a separate court ruled for the continuation of the process.
In August, the electoral authority set Sunday, December 1, as the election date. However, this date was later changed to December 15 due to roadblocks in October by Morales’ supporters.
Elections Will Be Held, But Partially
In early November, the Constitutional Tribunal declared the call to elect its magistrates and Supreme Court magistrates void in some Bolivian regions. Consequently, electoral authorities convened a political meeting to advocate for “complete” elections rather than partial ones.
Ultimately, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal complied with the Constitutional Tribunal’s order and announced that the judicial elections would be fully conducted in only 4 out of 9 regions: La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, and Chuquisaca. In the departments of Beni, Pando, Cochabamba, Tarija, and Santa Cruz, voting for TCP candidates will not take place, and in Beni and Pando, TSJ magistrates will also not be elected.
These partial elections will take place amid strong criticism from Evo Morales, who argues that the extension of the terms for magistrates supporting Arce could prevent him from running as a presidential candidate in 2025.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
