Pro Bolivia

The Movement for Socialism (MAS), known as Bolivia’s “political instrument,” was born as a beacon of hope to give representation to the most marginalized: peasants, indigenous communities, workers, and women historically excluded from political power. However, recent denunciations by leaders like Angélica Ponce, Rolando Cuéllar, Héctor Arce, and Jerges Mercado reveal a troubling reality: the MAS, created to empower the unrepresented, has become a vehicle for leaders and their allies to consolidate personal power, betraying the grassroots that built it and trampling on the poorest. This article examines the origins of the MAS, the grassroots’ accusations against the undemocratic practices of its leaders, the poor economic management of Luis Arce Catacora that exacerbates the crisis, and the challenges of implementing socialism in Latin America, where statism often veers into authoritarianism.

The Birth of the MAS: A Tool for the Unrepresented

The MAS emerged in 1995 as an organic response from social movements to provide representation for those without a voice in Bolivian politics: indigenous communities, peasants, and workers seeking to participate in building a prosperous and inclusive nation. Far from being a fight against a specific ideology, the MAS was founded to ensure that the poorest had a say in decision-making, promoting a plurinational state prioritizing social justice and democratic participation. Organizations like the Bolivian Workers’ Peasant Union Confederation and intercultural women were key pillars, articulating grassroots demands through marches, assemblies, and congresses.

Angélica Ponce, one of the MAS’s founders, recalls her commitment to this cause: “I have always been with the grassroots, walking alongside them.” Her testimony reflects the MAS’s original spirit: a political instrument serving the people, where decisions were meant to come from communities, not political elites. The goal was clear: to empower the unrepresented to shape Bolivia’s future, fostering a more just and equitable society.

Grassroots Denunciations: The “Dedazo” and Betrayal of the People

Today, however, the MAS’s grassroots denounce that this founding spirit has been betrayed. Angélica Ponce, current director of the Plurinational Mother Earth Authority, has accused President Luis Arce Catacora of imposing Eduardo del Castillo as the presidential candidate through the “dedazo,” an authoritarian practice that disregards the democratic decisions of the grassroots. “Evo Morales used his finger to bring in Lucho, and Lucho used his finger to appoint Eduardo del Castillo. Why do they say ‘let’s rebuild the MAS for the grassroots’ when the finger still reigns?” Ponce declared, expressing the outrage of those who see leaders prioritizing their interests over the people’s.

Ponce, backed by social organizations from Bolivia’s nine departments, laments that the MAS has become a space where leaders and their close allies benefit from candidacies and positions of power, sidelining the grassroots who have sacrificed lives and families for the process of change. “I lost an uncle and a cousin. I’ve seen my nephews grow up without their father, and it truly outrages us. Our struggle has been for nothing,” she stated, highlighting the pain of those who gave everything for the party only to be ignored. She also denounces threats to silence her, claiming “they’re already preparing to sideline or freeze me,” but reaffirms her commitment to the grassroots, calling on them to rebuild the MAS from below.

Other leaders echo these accusations. Deputy Rolando Cuéllar demands Del Castillo’s resignation, accusing him of being an “opportunist” without MAS militancy and representing capitalist interests that contradict the party’s socialist ideology. Héctor Arce calls Del Castillo’s appointment a “show” and criticizes Arce’s bid for a Senate seat in La Paz as a cynical move to shield himself from corruption allegations. Jerges Mercado, another arcista deputy, denounces “dedazos and payoffs” in candidate selections, lamenting that organic leaders like himself, Yali Montenegro, and Angélica Ponce were overlooked for the presidential ticket. “The organic process and internal democracy have not been respected,” Mercado stated, urging the grassroots to remain vigilant.

These denunciations reveal that the MAS, conceived as a tool for the unrepresented, has become a vehicle for leaders and their allies to consolidate power, betraying the poorest who placed their faith in the process of change. The appointment of candidates without party history, like Del Castillo, and Arce’s Senate candidacy suggest a strategy to secure immunity and perpetuate power, at the expense of the grassroots.

Luis Arce’s Poor Management: A Crisis Hitting the Poorest

The grassroots’ outrage is compounded by the disastrous economic management of Luis Arce Catacora’s government, which has deepened Bolivia’s crisis and directly impacted the most vulnerable. Fuel shortages, including gasoline and diesel, have led to long lines at gas stations, affecting both transporters and ordinary citizens reliant on mobility for work. The prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, making the cost of living unsustainable for small merchants and humble families. In markets like La Paz’s Uyustus fair, traders have shuttered their stalls and declared a “mourning for the economy,” symbolized by black ribbons.

The official dollar exchange rate, set at 6.96 bolivianos by the Central Bank of Bolivia, is a fiction compared to the parallel market, where a dollar can cost between 15 and 20 bolivianos. This disparity has driven up import costs and fueled speculation, hitting small traders and consumers hard. “The Bolivian currency has died, 1985-2025,” read signs in La Paz, reflecting the desperation of those whose businesses are collapsing. Traders denounce that sales have plummeted to the point where they can no longer afford rent, and the lack of dollars in the formal market has paralyzed commerce. This crisis, critics argue, stems from erratic economic management that has depleted natural resources like gas and oil without a sustainable plan, leaving the poorest in a state of abandonment and despair.

Socialism in Latin America: An Ideal Hard to Realize

The MAS’s crisis reflects a broader issue in Latin America: the difficulty of implementing socialism, particularly its statist variant, without falling into authoritarian or clientelist practices. In theory, socialism seeks to redistribute wealth and ensure social rights for the most disadvantaged. However, in countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, attempts to apply this model have led to systems where the state concentrates power, restricts freedoms, and often perpetuates poverty instead of alleviating it.

• Cuba: Since the 1959 revolution, Cuba’s government has promised social equality, but economic centralization has caused chronic shortages and created a political elite living better than the general population, betraying revolutionary ideals.

• Venezuela: The 21st-century socialism of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro promised to empower the poor, but corruption, mismanagement, and repression have triggered an economic crisis with hyperinflation and mass migration, leaving the grassroots in misery.

• Nicaragua: Daniel Ortega has used socialist rhetoric to justify an authoritarian regime that represses opposition and manipulates elections, while inequalities persist.

In Bolivia, the MAS promised a community-based socialism rooted in indigenous principles of reciprocity and social justice. However, the grassroots’ denunciations suggest that the party has followed a similar path, where socialist rhetoric legitimizes the power of an elite that has co-opted the political instrument’s goals, sidelining the poorest.

The Voice of the Grassroots: A Call for Reconstruction

Despite the betrayals and economic crisis, the MAS’s grassroots refuse to give up. Angélica Ponce, with 30 years of union experience, insists that the political instrument belongs to the people, not a handful of leaders. “I am a founding woman. This instrument isn’t owned by a few. I told Evo, and I tell Lucho: they’ve got it completely wrong,” she declared, calling on the grassroots to reclaim the MAS from below. Jerges Mercado emphasizes that the fight is not for positions but for principles, urging the preservation of the process of change to prevent the return of a “sellout” right. These voices reflect the indignation of a people who feel their struggle has been devalued, but also their determination to rebuild a MAS that truly represents the unrepresented.

Conclusion

The MAS was born to give a voice to Bolivia’s marginalized, seeking their participation in a prosperous and inclusive nation. However, grassroots denunciations reveal that the party has been hijacked by leaders prioritizing their interests, betraying the poorest. Luis Arce’s poor management, marked by fuel shortages, rising prices, and a currency crisis, exacerbates the discontent, hitting those the MAS vowed to protect. The experience of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua shows that statist socialism in Latin America often veers into authoritarianism, but in Bolivia, hope lies in the grassroots, whose indignation and commitment aim to restore the political instrument as a true vehicle for justice and representation for the humblest.