Milei revokes political refugee status granted to Evo Morales by previous Argentine government

Argentine President Javier Milei ended the political refugee status of the former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, one of the leftist leaders in Latin America with whom he has had short circuits. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the presidential spokesperson.

In a brief message in X, Manuel Adorni said that “Juan Evo Morales Ayma’s refugee status has been terminated. End” although the government has not explained the reasons for the decision aligned with its ideology of rejection of socialism.

Peronist Alberto Fernández, Milei’s predecessor and ruler between 2019 and 2023, granted the status of refugee to Morales a few days after assuming power on December 10, 2019, when the Bolivian leader arrived in Argentina after resigning as president, amid the protests that were generated in his country after declaring himself the winner in controversial elections.

At that time, the Fernández government did not recognize the administration of Jeanine Áñez, who had assumed power after Morales’ resignation. After a brief stay in Mexico, the former Bolivian president chose Argentina as a destination to flee what he considered political persecution.

Despite the refuge granted, Morales left Argentina to return to Bolivia in November 2020, after the leftist Luis Arce, his political heir and, to date, his ally, won the presidential elections.

Hundreds of supporters accompanied Morales as he crossed a border bridge from the Argentine side into the city of Villazón, where he was bid farewell by then-Argentine President Alberto Fernández.

For this reason, the Argentine government’s decision announced on Wednesday has more symbolic than practical effects on Morales.

Morales governed Bolivia for 14 years (2006-2019) — supported by the Movement towards Socialism (MAS) — and has been a harsh critic of Milei’s adjustment policies, even on one occasion he mentioned the possibility that the right-winger would not finish his term. constitutional mandate of four years.

Milei, leader of La Libertad Avanza, has accused Morales and other leftist leaders of wanting to entrench themselves in power.

Currently Morales leads massive protests against the Bolivian president, Luis Arce, with whom the leadership and control of the party apparatus is now disputed in view of the 2026 presidential elections.

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