Evo Morales
| Evo Morales | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 80th President of Bolivia | |
|
Assumed office January 22, 2006 |
|
| Vice President | Álvaro García Linera |
| Preceded by | Eduardo Rodríguez |
| Leader of the Movement for Socialism | |
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Assumed office January 1, 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Juan Evo Morales Ayma 26 October 1959 Isallawi, Bolivia |
| Political party | Movement for Socialism |
| Children | Eva Liz Álvaro |
| Parents | Dionisio Morales Choque María Ayma Mamani |
| Residence | Palacio Quemado |
| Religion | Indigenous Andean religion Roman Catholicism |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Bolivia |
| Service/branch |
 Bolivian Army |
| Years of service | 1977–1978 |
| Unit | Fourth Ingavi Cavalry Regiment |
Juan Evo Morales Ayma (born October 26, 1959), popularly known as Evo (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈeβo]), is a Bolivian politician and cocalero activist who has served as President of Bolivia since 2006. Widely regarded as the country's first president to come from the indigenous population, his administration has focused on the implementation of leftist policies, poverty reduction, and combating the influence of the United States and multinational corporations in Bolivia. A socialist, he is the head of the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party.
Born to an Aymara family of subsistence farmers in Isallawi, Orinoca Canton, Morales undertook a basic education before mandatory military service, in 1978 moving to Chapare Province. Growing coca and becoming a trade unionist, he rose to prominence in the campesino ("rural laborers") union, campaigning against U.S. and Bolivian attempts to eradicate coca as a part of the War on Drugs, which he denounced as an imperialist violation of indigenous Andean culture. He repeatedly engaged in anti-government direct action protests, resulting in multiple arrests. Morales entered electoral politics in 1995, became the leader of the MAS and was elected to Congress. His campaign focused on issues affecting indigenous and poor communities, advocating land reform and redistribution of gas wealth. He gained increased visibility through the Cochabamba protests and gas conflict. In 2002 he was expelled from Congress for encouraging protesters, although he came second in that year's presidential election.
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