“I understand that (…) there is a meeting in Cochabamba; let’s hope President Lucho listens to reflections,” assured Arispe, who is also the head of the Movement Towards Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (MAS-IPSP).

Arispe told reporters they must iron out differences and take joint actions after listening to the people.

The meeting occurred after several weeks in which legislators and other MAS-IPSP figures asked to change Justice Minister Iván Lima and Government Minister Eduardo del Castillo after both made public criticisms against the former president and the Movement leader.

The organization held an expanded meeting in Cochabamba on October 6 in the presence of Morales, in which it declared a state of emergency against those who conspire against Arce’s Government.

“In the face of the actions to redefine the right wing and anti-democratic coup plotters of its actors who today continue conspiring with impunity against the democratically elected government, we declare ourselves in a state of emergency for the defense of the homeland,” point 2 of the resolution of that forum stated.

According to the communiqué, those attending the political meeting agreed to invite President Arce and Vice President David Choquehuanca to a meeting with the MAS-IPSP and the Pact of Unity.

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