Childhood and Education Journey of Evo Morales in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Evo Morales. A timeline of key moments.

Evo Morales is a Bolivian politician and former president (2006-2019), notable as the country's first indigenous president. As a former cocalero activist and trade union organizer, he led the Movement for Socialism (MAS) party and implemented left-wing policies aimed at improving the socioeconomic conditions and legal protections for Bolivia's indigenous population. His administration also worked to counter the influence of the United States and resource-extracting multinational corporations within Bolivia.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

October 1959: Evo Morales Born

On October 1959, Juan Evo Morales Ayma was born. He later became the 65th president of Bolivia from 2006 to 2019.

Others born on this day/year

1970: MAS electoral campaign based on Salvador Allende's successful campaign

In 2005, the MAS electoral campaign was based on Salvador Allende's successful campaign in the 1970 Chilean presidential election.

1977: Military Service

In 1977, Evo Morales began his mandatory military service in the Bolivian Army.

1978: Stationed at Army HQ

In 1978, Evo Morales was stationed at the army headquarters in La Paz as part of his military service.

1980: Family Relocated

In 1980, Evo Morales' family relocated to the Tropics of Cochabamba due to agricultural devastation.

1980: García Meza Coup

In 1980, the far-right General Luis García Meza seized power in a military coup, leading Evo Morales to become more politically active.

1981: Campesino Murdered

In 1981, a campesino was murdered by soldiers, solidifying Morales's relationship with politics.

1981: Family Settled in El Chapare

In 1981, the Morales family settled in Villa 14 de Septiembre, El Chapare, and began growing various crops, including coca.

1982: Zuazo Took Power

In 1982, Hernán Siles Zuazo and the UDP took power and implemented neoliberal reforms with US support.

1983: Death of Dionisio

In 1983, Morales' father, Dionisio, died.

1986: Sindicato and Politics

In 1986, members of the sindicato social movement first suggested a move into the political arena.

1988: El Chapare population Increase

By 1988, El Chapare's population had risen to 215,000.

1989: Formation of a political wing

In 1989, Morales began supporting the formation of a political wing.

1989: Villa Tunari Commemoration and Attack on Morales

In 1989, Morales spoke at the Villa Tunari massacre commemoration and was later beaten and left for dead by UMOPAR agents.

1992: International Trips

In 1992, Morales made international trips to champion the cocalero cause, including a conference in Cuba and a trip to Canada, where he learned of his mother's death.

1993: Consensus

In 1993, Consensus emerged in favor of its formation.

August 1994: Arrested and hunger strike

In August 1994, Evo Morales was arrested and began a dry hunger strike to protest his arrest.

September 1994: March to La Paz

In September 1994, campesinos marched from Villa Tunari to La Paz, and Morales joined after being freed.

1994: Comparisons with the election of Nelson Mandela

Morales was widely described as Bolivia's first indigenous leader. Political analysts therefore drew comparisons with the election of Nelson Mandela to the South African Presidency in 1994.

April 1995: Arrested at Andean Council Meeting

In April 1995, Morales was arrested during a meeting of the Andean Council of Coca Producers and accused of plotting a coup, though no evidence was found.

2001: Noemí Meneses' Birth Year

In 2001, Noemí Meneses was born. Her birth year became relevant in the context of later allegations regarding her relationship with Evo Morales.

2004: Operating structure of MAS continues

Until 2004, the Movement for Socialism party structure continued operating as the political wing of the social movement, with all tiers in the movement involved in decision making.

March 2005: Mesa Resigns

In March 2005, Mesa resigned, citing the pressure of Morales and the cocalero roadblocks and riots. Amid fears of civil war, Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé became president of a transitional government, preparing Bolivia for a general election in December 2005.

January 2006: Morales crowned Apu Mallku

In January 2006, Morales attended an indigenous spiritual ceremony at Tiwanaku where he was crowned Apu Mallku (Supreme Leader) of the Aymara, receiving gifts from indigenous peoples across Latin America and thanking the goddess Pachamama for his victory.

2008: Indigenous people in universities

In 2008, it was estimated that half of the students enrolled in Bolivia's 11 public universities were indigenous, while three indigenous-specific universities had been established, offering subsidized education.

July 2018: Emergency Surgery

On July 4, 2018, Evo Morales underwent emergency surgery at a private clinic in La Paz to remove a tumor.

November 2019: Children Leave Bolivia

In late November 2019, Evo Morales' children, Evaliz Morales Alvarado and Álvaro Morales Paredes, left Bolivia and traveled to Buenos Aires.

August 2020: Death of Esther Morales Ayma

On August 16, 2020, Esther Morales Ayma, Evo Morales' older sister and First Lady of Bolivia, died after contracting COVID-19.

November 2020: Morales Returned to Bolivia

One day after new president Luis Arce was sworn into office, on 9 November 2020, Morales returned to Bolivia after 11 months abroad.

January 2021: Morales Tested Positive for COVID-19

On 12 January 2021, Kawsachun Coca radio confirmed that Morales had tested positive for COVID-19. He was discharged from the Los Olivos private clinic on 27 January.