Evo Morales

**Juan Evo Morales Aima** (born October 26, 1959) was the President of Bolivia from 2006 through 2019. He is an Aymara Native American, and is politically a leftist. He is the founder and leader of the Movement toward Socialism (or MAS) political party. _Movimiento al Socialismo_ is its Spanish name.

## Presidency

On January 22, 2006, he became President of Bolivia. His party has declared that he is the first indigenous person to be president of Bolivia. Not everyone believes this to be true because of his mestizo heritage and similar backgrounds of several past Bolivian presidents. Nonetheless, he is likely the first _culturally_ indigenous president of Bolivia.

### Policies

Born in Oruro, Morales was a leader in a union of coca growers. Morales has said he does not like United States policy toward Latin America, criticizing the country's past failures to stand up for democracy, trade agreements which he feels have not helped Bolivia, and especially for the US's anti-drug policies. Coca is a component in cocaine, but is also an important part of Bolivian culture. Morales became well known for this, and he was elected to Congress.

Even though he was forced out of Congress in 2002, he became a very popular person in Bolivia, and won the country's presidential election in 2005. As president, he focused on economic changes that moved the country toward a more socialist economy, instead of a capitalist one. He also worked with other leaders in South America like Rafael Correa and Nestor Kirchner. Morales has been a popular president, and has been reelected in 2009 and 2014. During this time he has criticized both George W. Bush and Barack Obama and has had arguments with the United States.

In 2016, Morales wanted to pass a Constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for another term in 2019. Many people in Bolivia saw this as a power grab, and the amendment lost the election.

## 2019 political crisis

On 20 October 2019 Morales won 47.1% of the vote in the first round of the 2019 Bolivian general election. The results were immediately challenged and led to widespread protests. On 9 November 2019 the Organization of American States published a preliminary report that there were "clear manipulations". The police joined the protests against Morales and on 10 November the military forced him to resign.

## Assassination attempt

On 27 October 2024, Morales said he survived an assassination attempt when he stated that the windshield of his car was hit by many bullets allegedly from a military barrack.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Evo Morales
- **image**: Evo Morales Ayma (cropped 3).jpg
- **caption**: Official portrait, 2018
- **alt**: Morales by a Bolivian flag
- **order**: 65th
- **office**: President of Bolivia
- **vicepresident**: Álvaro García Linera
- **term start**: 22 January 2006
- **term end**: 10 November 2019
- **predecessor**: Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé, Eduardo Rodríguez
Veltzé
- **successor**: Jeanine Áñez
- **office1**: President pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, President pro tempore of CELAC
- **term start1**: 14 January 2019
- **term end1**: 10 November 2019
- **predecessor1**: Salvador Sánchez Cerén
- **successor1**: Jeanine Áñez
- **office2**: President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations, President pro tempore of UNASUR
- **term label2**: In role
- **term start2**: 17 April 2018
- **term end2**: 16 April 2019
- **predecessor2**: Mauricio Macri
- **successor2**: _Vacant_
- **office3**: Leader of the Movement for Socialism (Bolivia), Movement for Socialism
- **term start3**: 1 January 1998
- **predecessor3**: Party established
- **office4**: Member of the Chamber of Deputies (Bolivia), Chamber of Deputies
from Cochabamba Department, Cochabamba circumscription 27
- **1namedata4**: Luis Cutipa
- **term start4**: 2 August 2002
- **term end4**: 22 January 2006
- **successor4**: Asterio Villarroel
- **1namedata5**: Valentín Gutiérrez
- **term start5**: 6 August 1997
- **term end5**: 24 January 2002
- **predecessor5**: Seat established
- **birth name**: Juan Evo Morales Ayma
- **birth place**: Isallavi, Oruro Department, Oruro, Bolivia
- **party**: Movement for Socialism (Bolivia), Movement for Socialism
- **children**: Evaliz Morales Alvarado
Álvaro Morales Peredo
- **parents**: Dionisio Morales Choque
María Ayma Mamani
- **relatives**: Esther Morales
- **signature**: Evo Morales signature.svg
- **allegiance**: Bolivia
- **branch**: Bolivian Army
- **serviceyears**: 1977–1978
- **unit**: Fourth Ingavi Cavalry Regiment