-Last week, I convened a dialogue
with four of the parties that are represented in Congress.
They rejected it.
Secondly, I proposed a new
Supreme Electoral Tribunal new political actors
and new elections with Evo Morales.
They did not accept it.
But the aggressions continued, the burning of houses,
[aggression toward] our authorities, union leaders,
threats to lynch their wives, relatives, children.
It was unbearable.
So to prevent such aggressions from the right,
the violent ones, I stepped down.
But under pressure, under intimidation, under harassment,
with threats that they were going to burn our homes
and family members, they [the opposition]
made Victor Borda, the president of the lower chamber
of Congress, resign. That's fascism.
I am astonished how fascism has returned to Bolivia.
This lady [Jeanine Añez], who flaunts
the president of Bolivia,
was the second vice president of the Senate.
She did not fulfill the constitutional requirement.
For any constitutional succession,
first the Congress must approve or reject my resignation.
If they approve my resignation,
then there would be constitutional succession.
Before even my resignation was approved,
she proclaimed herself as president of Bolivia.
-Do you consider yourself still the president of Bolivia?
-I don't consider myself [president anymore]
but it's in the hands of the Congress.
Legally, some lawyers tell me,
as long as they don't approve my resignation,
I'm still president.
-When are you thinking of returning to Bolivia?
-If it was up to me, I would return right now.
I miss Bolivia.
I am used to work form 5:00 a.
m.
until 11:00 p. m.
, 12:00 a. m.
, sometimes 1:00 a. m.
That is why our government has lasted for so many years.
In the past, [Bolivia] never had political stability.
However, I see the moment when I can go back
and be with the people, pacifying or resisting the coup.
-What is it you would do if you returned?
-If I can help in any way to pacify or unite,
I strongly agree.
If I can contribute to social peace in Bolivia,
I am willing to return.
-It sounds like you're preparing to go back in the next few days.
-I have the desire.
Who doesn't miss their homeland, their land.
I have lots of memories of union fights,
presidential administration,
and the many changes we accomplished thanks
to the unity of the Bolivian people.
I want to return as soon as possible to be with my people.
I was the first one to request
an audit of the [Organization of American
States] so that they can verify,
if possible, each vote, each certificate, each account.
I don't think they did that.
According to the report I have,
nowhere in the OAS report says there was fraud.
There were some irregularities, observations,
and interpretations.
-Just to be clear, are you thinking that
the assembly could reject your resignation
and that you may try to return as president?
-There are two options. It's the right of the Congress
to approve or reject [my resignation].
If they approve or reject my resignation,
why don't I have the right to return?
We need assurances to go back to Bolivia.