By Beyza Binnur Donmez
ANKARA (AA) – Bolivia's former leader Evo Morales said on Friday that there are no legal obstacles before his nomination as a lawmaker in the May 3 elections.
"First, the coup plotters were afraid of my candidacy for the presidency. Now they fear being nominated as a deputy or senator," Morales said on Twitter, referring country's de facto government led by Jeanine Anez.
"Legally, nothing prevents me from being a candidate, but the coup plotters want to outlaw me and silence me, but they won't succeed," he said.
The indigenous leader blames Anez, opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho and former President Carlos Mesa for his ouster, which he calls a coup.
Bolivians will elect their president, vice president and other legislators after months of political strife on May 3.
Morales will not be able to run in May 3 elections for the presidency as he has already hit the constitutional limit of two terms in the office.
His Movement for Socialism (MAS) Party will be represented by Luis Arce Catacora as it is decided after two days of "intense debate" in Argentina, where he granted asylum, with the leaders of the MAS and the Pact of Unity — a national alliance of Bolivian grassroots organizations in support of indigenous and agrarian rights.
Turmoil in Bolivia began when Morales won a fourth term in office — which was beyond the legitimate limit — in October and faced immediate resistance from opposition parties that challenged the presidential election results. Protesters took to the streets claiming the ballot was rigged.
After weeks of upheaval, Morales resigned under pressure from the military and moved to Mexico, where he was offered political asylum. He was then granted asylum in Argentina.
Meanwhile, conservative Senator Anez proclaimed herself interim president.
