Morales gone? Socialist icon goes into hiding after Maduro's arrest

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales, one of the icons of Latin American socialism, has not appeared in public since the US military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro, who was his ally, the AP reported on Tuesday.

Since early January, Morales has missed a planned meeting with coca farmers and has not appeared on his radio show. On Monday, he was absent from the ceremony welcoming students returning from vacation. He hasn't posted on social media for almost a month.

Morales has been facing allegations in Bolivia for over a year that he had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girlbut the existing arrest warrant has not yet prevented him from participating in political rallies, meetings with supporters and other events, the AP emphasized.

According to this agency, Morales's associates refuse to explain his absence in private conversations, but publicly claim that the former head of state is recovering from dengue infection. His opponents say that he left the country, e.g. to Mexico.

Morales, a charismatic labor leader, was Bolivia's first indigenous president. His victory in the 2006 elections marked the beginning of almost 20 years of socialist rule, interrupted only last year by the victory of the current president, centrist politician Rodrigo Paz.

Morales, like Maduro, positioned himself as an opponent of American imperialism and strengthened relations with countries such as Russia, China and Iran. Cooperation with China and Russia included, among others: rich lithium deposits in Bolivia. (PAP)

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