Bolivians will
vote for a new president on 3 May 2020, according to a report by France 24 on 4 January 2020. After 13 years in power, Evo Morales sought a fourth presidential term in the presidential elections in October 2019. Despite declaring himself the winner, there were allegations of fraud. He
resigned and fled to Mexico in November 2019 after three weeks of violent protests and after losing the support of the police and armed forces (Democracy Speaks, 18 November 2019). The Christian Senator Jeanine Anez then took up the position of
Interim President, an appointment endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court (BBC News, 13 November 2019). She held up a large Bible at her first public appearance in office.
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), comments: "During his presidency Evo Morales declared the Bolivian State secular and the new Constitution of 2009 formally
ended the Catholic Church's designation as the protected religion of the state (US News, 20 November 2019). In public speeches he even referred to the Catholic Church as "an instrument of control" which must be changed by adopting a more indigenous worldview. As a result, his Movement to Socialism Party (MAS-IPSP) promoted indigenous religious practices. Several Christian denominations were critical of this and the government often accused his detractors of mounting a coup against him."
Rossana Ramirez, adds: "After the resignation of President Morales, Catholic Church leaders called for a
national dialogue, hoping that the next elections will provide calm after weeks of violent protests (France24, 18 November 2020). Church leaders are hopeful that the new government will be open to the free and safe participation of Christians in the public sphere. However, the interim president's obvious interest in promoting Christianity has caused
tension within indigenous communities, since indigenous leaders see this as conflicting with the Constitution"s recognition of the country's spiritual diversity. This situation could result in increased pressure and/or reprisals against Christians in some rural communities."
