Hence, Morales was pushed to allow an audit of the election results to be conducted. Despite the audit, tensions, protests, road blocks, marches and even violence spread like wildfire between the Bolivian communities who were in support of Evo Morales and those who opposed him staying in power. Though we have not fact not directly experienced any violence at all in Jupapina, we've heard of violence in the news and have witnessed marches, road blocks and a shortage of bread and eggs, as well as an increase in prices.
Throughout this conflict, President Morales argued that winning this election would allow him to “‘deepen’ democracy” in Bolivia, “by continuing to promote policies that reduce social and economic inequality.” Meanwhile, supporters of Carlos Mesa alleged election fraud well before the official tallying was even finished. They argued that the re-election of Evo Morales would effectively end democracy in Bolivia, while consolidating Morales’ dictatorship. As The Post reported, each side was “accusing the other of endangering democracy by emphasizing different aspects of democracy.” The irony, of course, is that this polarization—this failure to recognize different perspectives and to find common ground—was what was resulting in the dissolution of the country’s democracy.
