Congressman Rooney’s statement on Bolivia

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Francis Rooney (R-FL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade called for a peaceful transition and free and fair elections in Bolivia following the resignation of Evo Morales:

Congressman Rooney stated “Yesterday, Evo Morales resigned from the Presidency of Bolivia following irregularities and manipulation of the results of the October 20^th elections as identified by the Organization of American States. During the run-up to this year’s election, Morales restricted the freedom of the press, persecuted opposition politicians, and eroded the credibility of Bolivia’s public institutions. However, moving forward I urge respect for the constitution and rule of law as Bolivia moves towards new elections.

“I commend the OAS for their work and professionalism throughout this process and urge their continued support to ensure the Bolivian people are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote peacefully without pressure or interference.”