AMERICA/BOLIVIA - In the face of an increase in infections, the Bishops reiterate that "it is not wise to hold elections"

Friday, 24 July 2020 coronavirus elections politics episcopal conferences

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Sucre (Agenzia Fides) - The President of the Bolivian Bishops' Conference (CEB), Archbishop Ricardo Centellas of Sucre, reaffirms the position of the Catholic Church in Bolivia on the priority of preserving and caring for the health and life of Bolivians before the presidential elections, scheduled for September 6: "As the number of contagions increases, it is not convenient to hold elections", he underlines in a video released by the Bishops' Conference. The Archbishop also asks to take care of democracy and to guarantee the participation of people in the elections: "if the infected increase and continue to rise, and there is no downward curve, it is very risky and it is not wise to carry out elections".
In his statement, Archbishop Centellas reiterates that "politics as such is at the service of life, is at the service of the care of the integrity of the person, of health", and addressing the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, he recalls that "any measure adopted can always be reviewed, taking care of the health of all Bolivians".
The President of the CEB underlines the crisis situation that the world is suffering, and that Bolivia is also experiencing, especially in the health system: "months ago I denounced that the health system had collapsed before the pandemic arrived". Therefore he complains: "it is incredible that we cannot even bury the dead", and asks the competent authorities to "adopt extreme resources".
"New political leaders are needed, but who understand politics - reiterates the President of the CEB -. Politics is not an opportunity to earn money, politics is a service to the common good, to work so that every Bolivian lives with dignity" and concludes: "Bolivia will change the day when a politician takes public responsibility, will forget his political color, will forget his personal interest".
On June 10, the Bolivian Bishops' Conference published a press release entitled "Cuidar a los Ciudadanos" (Taking care of citizens) in which it pointed out some aspects of social life, which involve every citizen, and urged caution to avoid Covid-19 infection (see Fides, 12/6/2020). For the CEB, the priority in this time of pandemic is to preserve the health of Bolivians, and listen to experts in the health field in order to be able to make decisions, in a responsible manner, that affect the community. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 24/7/2020)