Camacho, a conservative lawyer and businessman, returned to a hero's welcome in the eastern province of Santa Cruz. Thousands of supporters waving the city's green and white flags greeted him as he walked to the governor's office. "It has been an honour to be imprisoned for almost three years, for the struggle of my people and for democracy,” Camacho told the cheering crowd. He then resumed his duties as governor, a position held by his deputy during his absence.
Legal Maneuvers and Political Momentum
Camacho's release comes after a ruling by Bolivia's Supreme Court ordering a review of the legality of pretrial detention in the cases of three prominent right-wing leaders. While he has been placed under house arrest as the investigation into the alleged 2019 coup continues, his lawyers have stated that this does not prevent him from working.
In a related development, Bolivia's highest court has thrown out criminal charges against former interim President Jeanine Anez over her role in the 2019 killings of protesters. The court ordered the case to be restarted in a special process for alleged crimes committed by former heads of state. This decision marks a significant legal victory for Anez, who has been imprisoned for almost four and a half years on various charges related to the 2019 ouster of Morales.
These sudden developments come just weeks after a general election that has boosted the opposition's political momentum for the first time in decades. A run-off presidential election in October will pit a centrist pro-business senator against a right-wing former president, signaling a potential political shift in the country.