Bolivian President Evo Morales makes a speech at the presidential hangar in El Alto on November 10, 2019. (Photo: Enzo De Luca/AP)

At a press conference, Morales said he was the victim of a coup and was forced to step down to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. Morales said his government has given Bolivia an advanced society, stable growth, freedom, and a brightening future.

Pressure had been ramping up on Morales since he was declared the winner of the October 20 election. The Organization of American States (OAS) released a report saying that election should be annulled after it had found "clear manipulations" of the voting system that called into question Morales’ win. The organization urged cancellation of the result of the previous election, and a new election overseen by a new electoral commission.