Bolivia: Ex-president to donate salary amid virus

ANKARA

Bolivia's former President Evo Morales has announced that he will donate 100% of his former president's income in efforts to combat coronavirus outbreak inside the country.

"In the framework of my proposal for public servants to contribute to the #Coronavirus crisis, I will donate 100% of my former president's income for community [soup] kitchens in popular neighborhoods of humble families, as soon as the de facto government makes the payment viable," Morales said Monday on Twitter, referring to the government led by Jeanine Anez.

Morales previously recommended that public officials who earn more than 7,000 Bolivian Bolivianos (nearly $1,020) should donate 1,000 Bolivianos ($145) of their salary for two or three months for a fund for community kitchens that guarantee food for poor families.

Separately, Morales welcomed Tuesday Papa Francisco's request to eliminate international sanctions and forgive the debt of poor countries so that they may use these resources to fight the pandemic.

Although Bolivia is one of the countries which has the lowest number of virus cases and fatalities in the region, the coronavirus continues to spread across Latin America. Following the confirmation of the first coronavirus-related death in late March, the country has recorded 28 deaths among 354 cases, and 6 recoveries so far.

Turmoil in Bolivia began when Morales won a fourth term in office -- which was beyond the legitimate limit -- in October and resigned under pressure from the military and moved to Mexico, where he was offered political asylum. He was then granted asylum in Argentina.

Bolivian prosecutors issued an arrest warrant late December for ousted leader on charges of sedition and terrorism.

Since appearing in China last December, the virus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University's Coronavirus Resource Center.

More than 1.93 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide, with over 120,800 deaths, and nearly 464,400 recoveries.