Bolivia president offers concession to advance proposed constitutional reforms
- Bolivia
- 10/21/2008
Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday offered a possible solution to a congressional impasse on proposed reforms to the country’s constitution by agreeing not to seek re-election in 2014. Morales’ conservative opponents had sought such an assurance as a condition of approving a referendum on the proposed constitution, which cannot move forward without the support of two-thirds of the Bolivian National Congress. The current constitution limits the president to two terms, and Morales conceded that his present term, which began in 2006, would count toward that limit. Morales announced that a constitutional referendum will be held January 25, to be followed by presidential and congressional elections in December 2009. Should Morales win in 2009, that five-year term would be considered his second and final as president.
The controversial proposed constitutional reforms would distribute more of Bolivia’s land and energy resource income to the country’s indigenous population. In August, Morales won a referendum to continue his presidency, a vote that he proposed in an attempt to legitimize his campaign for the constitutional changes. The controversy surrounding the proposed reforms has included political violence and declarations of autonomy by several states.
