BOLIVIA
Controversial new constitution approved
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Bolivia's Constituent Assembly approved most of a new constitution that would give President Evo Morales more power despite an opposition boycott. (Report: J.Creedon)
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Bolivia constitution advances, opposition boycotts
By Reuters
ORURO, Bolivia, Dec 9 (Reuters) - An assembly boycotted by
the rightist opposition to Bolivian President Evo Morales
approved most of a controversial new constitution he supports
during an all-night session guarded by miners and peasant
farmers.
the rightist opposition to Bolivian President Evo Morales
approved most of a controversial new constitution he supports
during an all-night session guarded by miners and peasant
farmers.
The assembly dominated by delegates from Morales' Movement
Toward Socialism, or MAS, party, approved changes that would
allow two consecutive five-year terms for presidents, greater
state control of the economy, and more autonomy for provinces
and indigenous communities.
Toward Socialism, or MAS, party, approved changes that would
allow two consecutive five-year terms for presidents, greater
state control of the economy, and more autonomy for provinces
and indigenous communities.
"We're coming to a happy ending, we're managing to approve
the new constitution the Bolivian people are asking for," said
Roman Loayza, head of the MAS delegates in the assembly after
13 hours of voting in a university auditorium in Oruro, 140
miles (230 km) south of La Paz. More than 400 changes were
approved.
the new constitution the Bolivian people are asking for," said
Roman Loayza, head of the MAS delegates in the assembly after
13 hours of voting in a university auditorium in Oruro, 140
miles (230 km) south of La Paz. More than 400 changes were
approved.
But several steps are necessary before the constitution can
be enacted. First, a nationwide referendum is needed on one
remaining article. Then, the assembly will vote on the entire
text. Finally, another nationwide referendum is required on the
full constitution.
be enacted. First, a nationwide referendum is needed on one
remaining article. Then, the assembly will vote on the entire
text. Finally, another nationwide referendum is required on the
full constitution.
The assembly was moved to Oruro after three people were
killed two weeks ago in violent protests against the process in
Sucre, where it had been meeting for months.
killed two weeks ago in violent protests against the process in
Sucre, where it had been meeting for months.
As the assembly voted on Saturday night and Sunday morning
miners and peasant farmers loyal to Morales guarded the
university auditorium where the session was being held,
exploding small dynamite charges occasionally to intimidate any
potential anti-assembly protesters.
miners and peasant farmers loyal to Morales guarded the
university auditorium where the session was being held,
exploding small dynamite charges occasionally to intimidate any
potential anti-assembly protesters.
OPPOSITION BOYCOTT
The assembly also approved articles requiring election
rather than appointment of top judges, and transforming the
voting mechanism for the upper house of Congress, which is
currently controlled by the opposition.
rather than appointment of top judges, and transforming the
voting mechanism for the upper house of Congress, which is
currently controlled by the opposition.
Bolivia's poor, indigenous majority has clamored for a new
constitution and forming one was a key campaign promise of
Morales, the country's first president of indigenous descent.
constitution and forming one was a key campaign promise of
Morales, the country's first president of indigenous descent.
But the overhaul of the constitution has widened the rift
between the mountainous, largely poor and indigenous part of
the country that backs Morales, and the relatively wealthy
western lowlands, where the opposition has greater force.
between the mountainous, largely poor and indigenous part of
the country that backs Morales, and the relatively wealthy
western lowlands, where the opposition has greater force.
Of the assembly's 255 delegates more than one third
boycotted Saturday's session, including Bolivia's two biggest
right and center-right parties, who decry the process as a
Morales power grab.
boycotted Saturday's session, including Bolivia's two biggest
right and center-right parties, who decry the process as a
Morales power grab.
The assembly left one article -- a technical definition of
unproductive land holdings -- for a nationwide referendum,
apparently in a political maneuver that will make it easier to
get the entire text ratified in the assembly early next year.
unproductive land holdings -- for a nationwide referendum,
apparently in a political maneuver that will make it easier to
get the entire text ratified in the assembly early next year.
Morales is an ally of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, whose own
constitutional reform project was defeated narrowly in a
referendum last weekend. Another ideological ally, Ecuador's
Rafael Correa, is also pushing changes to his country's
constitution.
constitutional reform project was defeated narrowly in a
referendum last weekend. Another ideological ally, Ecuador's
Rafael Correa, is also pushing changes to his country's
constitution.
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