Bolivia opposition calls referendum against President Evo Morales (Updated)

Caracas, Venezuela, 8 May 2008. Today the opposition controlled Senate in Bolivia managed to approve a lay calling for a recall referendum against President Evo Morales and the nine province prefects. For this recall referemdum to have effect, Bolivians would need to have it approved by more than 54% of the votes.

The timing of this recall law was most surprising. Initially, the law was proposed by the Evo Morales administration last December. It thought the law would be the paving solution to the new constitution problem Morales confronted. However, the opposition controlled Senate did not approve the drafter law then. It only did it now affecting democratically elected authorities at central and local levels. If no further developments prevent it, the consultation would take place within ninety days from approval. President Morales could still veto the proposed referendum. Opposition stated the recall referendum would be the only way out of the current crisis.

On the other hand, the Morales government has rejected referenda in two other provinces. By issuing an electoral decree, it withdrew authority from local electoral authorities to organize referenda in Beni, Pando and Tarija.  On the other hand, President Morales continues to press for direct negotiation with prefects and offers the possibility to include some autonomous provisions in the drafted socialist constitution.  According to official news agency ABI, President Morales called for all nine prefects for a meeting on Monday afternoon. However, Beni Prefet Ernesto Suarez has declared he would not be attending the negotiation call though. Prefect Suarez said his attendance could only take place after celebrating an autonomous "referendum" in Tarija on 22 June 2008. By suggesting, as an alternative date the day after all provinces would have celebrated autonomous "referenda", Prefect Suarez is asking for room for manouevring in a more powerful position.  

Earlier, American Ambassador to Bolivia, Phillip Goldberg expressed his government backing to all democratically elected authorities. After expressing respect for the integrity of Bolivia, Ambassador Goldberg also called on all parties to start negotiations. The Organization of Amercan States (OAS) also clarified it continued its mediation role in the Bolivian crisis. Nevertheless, the Morales government has declared it favours direct negotiations with the nine prefects. It also rejected the mediation of the local Catholic Church as biased.

PS: In an interview with Venezuelan opposition TV network Globovision, Bolivian Senate President, Oscar Ortiz, suggested the recall referendum could take place by the end of August or mid September 2008.  Ortiz also criticized the political alliance of the Presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela. For him President Evo Morales has allowed the intervention of Chavez in his countries affairs in a scandalous manner.

The law calling for a recall referendum has been sent to the Bolivian Presidency. Now President Morales would have 10 days to approve and publish or reject it. If it were rejected, then the Vice President of Congress would be able to discuss it again and have it approved.   

Sources: El Universal, ABI, Globovision, Unionradio, La Razón, Los Tiempos, El Deber, El Mundo, El Diario, RadioFides, Correo del Sur, ANF, El Nacional, Telesur, VTV,    

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