Chiquitania, Wildfires and Elections: The First Synopsis of the 2019 Political Crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/bsj.2024.335Keywords:
Chiquitanía, 2019 elections, political crisis, wildfiresAbstract
This article analyzes the link between the forest fires that affected the Chiquitanía in Bolivia in 2019 and the political crisis that resulted in the resignation of Evo Morales as president of the country after the 2019 elections. It is argued that the environmental disaster was used by groups opposed to the government with the dual objective of eroding Morales' popularity in view of the presidential elections and positioning the then president of the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee, Luis Fernando Camacho. This was achieved through the political capitalization of the forest catastrophe through social networks. To develop this argument, this article presents a data study on the dynamics of disinformation surrounding the forest burning; among others, the use of false images. It also examines the webpage of the Comité Civico Pro Santa Cruz, whose call for a massive cabildo, which was made under the slogan of defending the land, gave rise to a federalist and regionalist discourse rather than an environmentalist one. The article also analyzes the anti-MAS media campaign of the environmentalist group Ríos de Pie. In conclusion, it is argued that the manipulation of environmental activism for political ends, added to the social and legitimate discontent with Morales' administration, led to the events that provoked his resignation in a polarized electoral context that resulted in the last great Bolivian political crisis.
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