Senate Passes Cruz, Menendez, Durbin Resolution Supporting Democratic Principles in Bolivia

Statement

Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) applauded the Senate for unanimously approving their bipartisan resolution supporting democratic principles and standards in Bolivia and throughout Latin America. The resolution recognizes the importance of peaceful, democratic transfers of power through elections that have taken place in the majority of Latin American countries, and calls on Latin American democracies, including Bolivia, to continue to uphold these democratic norms.

Specifically, the resolution recognizes the historic significance of Bolivian President Evo Morales's 2005 election. It also expresses concern regarding President Morales's efforts to circumvent presidential term limits in the Bolivian constitution and reaffirms that a 2016 referendum vote to maintain presidential term limits reflected the legitimate will of the majority of voters in Bolivia.

"The Senate's passage of this bipartisan resolution sends a clear message to the Government of Bolivia to respect its own constitutional limits," Sen. Cruz said. "While Bolivia aligns itself with rogue and authoritarian regimes, including Venezuela and Russia, it's imperative for the U.S. to underscore the importance of term limits, and the value of peaceful transfers of power."

"It is critical that President Morales and other Latin American and Caribbean leaders respect the wishes of their people, by accepting their desire to maintain presidential term limits as guaranteed by their respective constitutions and uphold the democratic norms they have fought so hard to establish," Sen. Menendez said. "Amid increased threats to democracy throughout the world, the United States must demonstrate its commitment to defending democratic governance, and take a clear and consistent approach against any elected leader who attempts to extend his or her grasp on power by circumventing their country's own constitution."

"President Morales faces a test of leadership -- whether to respect democratic norms and will of the Bolivian voter, by finishing his final term resting on his genuine accomplishments, or attempting to recklessly go down the path of some of the region's few remaining discredited autocrats for life," Sen. Durbin said.

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