Morales, who has ruled Bolivia for nearly 14 years, fled on November 11, 2019 amid allegations of electoral malpractice. He denied the allegations and declared himself the winner of the October 2019 vote, but was eventually forced to resign before leaving the country.
Arsસેne, whose successor Morles set out as his successor, has previously served as the country’s finance minister.
“When I left, I said: ‘We’ll come back, and there’ll be millions.’ “Now we’re back and we’re millions,” Morales said after crossing the bridge connecting Bolivia and Argentina in the Bolivian villazone with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez.
The Bolivian interim government, which took power after Morales left the country, accused the former president of treason and terrorism, but the charges were dropped in October 2020.
Morales has previously announced his intention to return to his native Chaparre in central Bolivia; He plans to arrive on Wednesday, exactly 365 days after leaving the country.
Bolivia has been badly affected by the coronavirus. The economy is also struggling. Unemployment has risen since the epidemic began, and the International Monetary Fund is forecasting a decline in GDP of about 8% this year.
CNN’s Stefano Pozzeb reported from Bogota and Michelle McCluskey reported from Atlanta. Ivana Kottasov wrote in London.
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