La Paz, June 9 (RHC)-- Bolivian lawmaker from the National Unity (UN) opposition Party, Rafael Quispe reveals that he held secret meeting with U.S. embassy officials in La Paz in order to construct a political platform for the general elections in 2019.
During a radio interview, Quispe went on to point out that the country’s current opposition leaders including Samuel Doria Medina and former president Jorge Quiroga did not participate in the gatherings, given that U.S. officials did not consider them to be a "viable" option.
Current President Evo Morales was re-elected head-of-state in general elections in 2014. Evo beat the second place candidate, conservative businessman, Samuel Doria Medina of the Democratic Union party, who only captured 25.07 percent of the popular vote. Former president Jorge Quiroga took third place, with 9.44 percent of the national vote.
Quispe added that his political platform will include the country’s “indigenous and mestizo” population. He also stated that he had met with officials from the other embassies in order to strengthen bilateral relations.
This not the first time the U.S. has been accused of unduly interfering and influencing Bolivian domestic politics. Last February, Bolivian officials accused the United States of sending social media experts to his country to help the opposition during the recent campaign to determine if term limits would be altered.
Quispe along with his wife were recently implicated in a major corruption scandal involving a Bolivian-based foundation known as the Indigenous Fund. Prosecutors allege that Quispe and his wife were linked to at least five phantom development projects that were sponsored by the Indigenous Fund.