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A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 21 February 2020

Bolivia's former President Evo Morales attends a meeting with
members of his political party, the Movement Towards Socialism
Party (MAS), in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Feb. 17, 2020.
Associated Press
Bolivia bars ex-

President Morales In this Nov. 15, 2019, file photo is an Uber office in Secaucus, N.J.

from running for Senate Associated Press

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bo- ber's allegedly fraudulent Uber resumes operating in
livia's Supreme Electoral Tri- election. Morales claimed Colombia after 3-week hiatus
bunal on Thursday rejected that the since-annulled
the candidacy of former ballot re-elected him to a
President Evo Morales for fourth term in office, but By MANUEL RUEDA away from taxis that pay to operate in Colombia, in
a Senate seat in May's na- many opponents and an BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — licensing fees. 2013, he has had to work
tional elections because Organization of American Uber restarted operations Uber complied with the rul- longer hours.
he does not reside in the States team raised ques- in Colombia Thursday after ing but argued that it went "It's unfair" he said.
South American country. tions about the vote count. shutting down its app for against a free trade agree- But others have praised the
Tribunal head Salvador He resigned the presidency almost three weeks, saying ment between Colombia app for providing work to
Romero said at a news con- and left Bolivia amid wide- it had found "new alterna- and the United States. The people who are struggling
ference the decision can- spread protests and pres- tives" to work legally in the company also said the rul- to find employment, or are
not be appealed with the sure from military leaders. Latin American country, ing was discriminatory as unable to work full time
electoral board, though he The country remains bitterly one of several where the it only told Uber to cease jobs.
added that Morales "can divided following the often- company has faced resis- operations, and did not Eliana Quintero, a single
explore any judicial routes violent tumult that erupted tance from unions and leg- address similar apps that mother who has been an
he sees as pertinent." before and after Morales islators . also operate in Colombia, Uber driver for the past two
The tribunal did accept was pushed to resign. Uber said that from now on, including Cabify, Didi and years, said she was "ec-
the presidential candidacy Besides Arce, the other its app will help users in Co- Beat. static" about the platform's
of former economy min- presidential contenders for lombia enter contracts with On Thursday, taxi unions return.
ister Luis Arce of Morales' the May 3 election include drivers in which they are and legislators expressed "My car is not allowed to
Movement Toward Social- centrist former President "renting" the vehicles along skepticism that Uber's new circulate today," she said.
ism party, who also faced Carlos Mesa, who finished with the drivers' services. "rental" approach complies "But tomorrow I will be up
a demand seeking his dis- second in the October Opponents say the app with laws regulating public at 4 a.m. driving."
qualification. vote; interim President competes unfairly against transport in Colombia. Quintero says Uber's flex-
Morales is barred by law Jeanine Áñez, whose ad- taxi drivers and evades "It's a mockery of the law," ible work hours allow her to
from seeking the presiden- ministration has worked to some taxes. Ernesto Sandoval, general spend more time with her
cy but wanted to run for a overturn many of Morales' A spokeswoman for the manager of Taxis Teleclub, son – who recently recov-
seat in the Senate. policies and prosecute his company said the app is a Bogota cab company, ered from lung cancer –
Candidates are supposed allies; and regional civic looking for ways to add taxi told Caracol radio. "You while making enough mon-
to be residents of Bolivia, leader Luis Fernando Ca- drivers to its Colombia plat- can't provide public trans- ey to sustain her family. She
and Morales has taken macho, a major leader form. port and say it's a rental credits Uber with giving her
refuge in Argentina while of protests in the eastern "We want to offer a diver- service." a new chance to enter the
he faces charges in Bo- economic center of Santa sity of services that will al- "This just shows you how in labor force, after being un-
livia connected to Octo- Cruz.q low traditional, and new al- Colombia companies with employed for years.
ternatives (for transport) to money can do whatever "I am 42 and it's hard to get
coexist," read a statement they desire," said Jose Or- a new job at my age," she
from Uber. lando Herrera, a Bogota explained.
In December, Colombia's cab driver, who said that Uber said in January that it
Superintendency for Indus- he had to pay $25,000 for had 88,000 affiliated drivers
try and Commerce had or- his licensing fee. in Colombia, and approxi-
dered Uber to shut down, Herrera took a large loan to mately 2 million users. Legis-
following a lawsuit from a pay for his license, and says lators are currently working
taxi company. The super- that every day he must on a law that would regu-
intendency said Uber was earn around $60 to cover late ride-sharing apps and
providing transport in an his debts, and have some make them pay social se-
"unregulated" fashion, and money left for himself. He curity for drivers, as well as
was diverting customers said that since Uber started taxes on their earnings.q