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Bolivia crisis: Jeanine Áñez declares herself interim president | Bolivia crisis: Jeanine Áñez declares herself interim president |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales' resignation. | Bolivian opposition senator Jeanine Áñez has declared herself interim president of the South American country following Evo Morales' resignation. |
Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon. | Ms Áñez said she was next in line under the constitution and vowed to hold elections soon. |
Her appointment was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court. | Her appointment was endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court. |
Lawmakers from Mr Morales' party boycotted the session, and the former president branded Ms Áñez "a coup-mongering right-wing senator". | Lawmakers from Mr Morales' party boycotted the session, and the former president branded Ms Áñez "a coup-mongering right-wing senator". |
Mr Morales has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger. | Mr Morales has fled to Mexico, saying he asked for asylum there because his life was in danger. |
He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He has said he had been forced to stand down but had done so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed". | He resigned on Sunday after weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He has said he had been forced to stand down but had done so willingly "so there would be no more bloodshed". |
How did the senator become interim president? | How did the senator become interim president? |
Ms Áñez, 52, is a qualified lawyer and a fierce critic of Mr Morales. She was previously director of the Totalvision TV station, and has been a senator since 2010, representing the region of Beni in the National Assembly. | |
As the deputy Senate leader, Ms Áñez took temporary control of the body on Tuesday after Bolivia's vice-president and the leaders of the senate and lower house resigned. | |
That put her next in line for the presidency under the constitution. | |
The parliamentary session to appoint Ms Áñez was boycotted by lawmakers from Mr Morales' leftist Movement for Socialism party, who said it was illegitimate. | |
"Before the definitive absence of the president and vice president... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order," Ms Áñez said to applause from opposition lawmakers. | "Before the definitive absence of the president and vice president... as the president of the Chamber of Senators, I immediately assume the presidency as foreseen in the constitutional order," Ms Áñez said to applause from opposition lawmakers. |
Bolivia's highest constitutional court backed her assumption of power. | Bolivia's highest constitutional court backed her assumption of power. |
Writing on Twitter from Mexico, Mr Morales condemned the "sneakiest, most nefarious coup in history". | Writing on Twitter from Mexico, Mr Morales condemned the "sneakiest, most nefarious coup in history". |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. | Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. |
He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. | He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. |
Pressure had been growing on him since his narrow victory in last month's vote. | Pressure had been growing on him since his narrow victory in last month's vote. |
The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found "clear manipulation" and called for the result to be annulled. | The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found "clear manipulation" and called for the result to be annulled. |
In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. | In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. |
The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. | The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. |
Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being "harassed, persecuted and threatened". | Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being "harassed, persecuted and threatened". |
He fled to Mexico as unrest erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. | He fled to Mexico as unrest erupted on the streets of the Bolivian administrative capital, La Paz, with angry supporters of the socialist leader clashing with security forces. |
After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. | After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. |
"While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation," he said. | "While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation," he said. |