(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – An upcoming referendum seeking greater autonomy for the Santa Cruz department has polarized public opinion in Bolivia, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL. 47 per cent of respondents approve of next month’s plebiscite, while 47 per cent oppose it.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – An upcoming referendum seeking greater autonomy for the Santa Cruz department has polarized public opinion in Bolivia, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL. 47 per cent of respondents approve of next month’s plebiscite, while 47 per cent oppose it.
Evo Morales—an indigenous leader and former coca-leaf farmer—won the December 2005 presidential election as the candidate for the Movement to Socialism (MAS), with 53.7 per cent of the vote. He officially took over as Bolivia’s head of state in January 2006 and vowed to "re-found Bolivia" by enacting a new constitution.
In August 2006, the National Constituent Assembly—an elected ad-hoc body tasked with re-writing the country’s constitution—held its first session. The assembly was supposed to sit for just one year, but the process was marred by discrepancies between opposition parties and pro-government factions about whether the charter should be approved by a simple majority, as well as an attempt by MAS legislators to introduce an article to allow the indefinite re-election of the president. Opposition parties believed this would give Morales a chance to remain in power for as long as he wants.
In November 2007, a draft constitution was approved inside a military base in the vicinity of Sucre, with the support of all pro-government assembly members. Three people died and 20 more were injured during protests staged by the opposition to complain about the change of venue. The proposed draft includes articles that allow for consecutive presidential re-election, the creation of 36 autonomous indigenous communities, and tighter government controls over private media outlets. The new charter is yet to be ratified in a national referendum.
Santa Cruz governor Rubén Costas—a fierce Morales opponent—has called a referendum in an effort to increase his department’s autonomy within Bolivia, directly defying articles in the new constitution. People in Santa Cruz are expected to vote on this matter on May 4. Bolivia’s National Electoral Court (CNE) has said it will not endorse the results.
On Apr. 22, Morales called the upcoming vote in Santa Cruz "unimportant" and "illegal," adding, "No real Bolivian agrees with division, but there will always be this kind of initiative started by families that want to create obstacles. (…) Our obligation is to maintain the unity of the country and bring about transformation based on legality and constitutionality over and above any sectarian interests or claims."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of the referendum on autonomy scheduled for May 4 in Santa Cruz?
|
Approve |
47% |
|
Disapprove |
47% |
|
Not sure |
6% |
Source: Captura Consulting SRL
Methodology: Interviews with 850 adult Bolivians in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, conducted from Apr. 12 to Apr. 16, 2008. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.
