“We are resigning, I am resigning,” was what Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia, announced wafter being in power for almost 14 years. The Bolivian Army had sent him a video, where they told the now-former president that they are no longer giving him protection from the angry protesters over his election win–further telling him to get up and leave. Inconsistencies with polling had been found in the election regarding the number of votes Morales got,  but he said that he had been the victim of a coup. Morales also mentioned that he was leaving to help protect families of politicals allies after their homes were burned down. He urged protesters to “stop attacking their brothers and sisters…stop burning and attacking.”

One of the biggest criticisms of Evo Morales was his lack of respect for Bolivia’s democracy. He was accused of overstaying his welcome–with the military and local police ceasing to give him the protection he needs most.

With Morales no longer present, there is now a power vacuum. There is an increasing number of his party members that are resigning as they collectively feel that he needs to be held accountable for his actions, as do the citizens of Bolivia. Vice President Alvaro Garica and Senate President Adriana Salvatierra have also have resigned. 

At least three people have died during the protests in Bolivia, with some of the uniformed police having joined the protests. A female protestor commented: “I think it’s good. He should go through the big doors. This fool, who doesn’t know how to think, has gone through the window. That’s good, we’re happy.” Protesters took their chanting to the streets as they screamed “yes we could” while setting off firecrackers. “It’s what was coming. It’s what we all hoped for and I hope a real government for Bolivia will begin now,” a male protester added.

Bolivia has been rattled for weeks by anti-government protests following reports of election fraud. Tensions first flared on the night of the presidential election after the results stopped being counted for 24 hours. The final results of the elections gave Morales slightly more than a ten-point lead–a boost he needed to win the first round of the race.

 Evo Morales has moved to Mexico, where he was granted political asylum. The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, 65, agreed to give Evo Morales protection since not one person would do so in his home country.