Polls & Research

Morales is Backed by Half of Bolivians

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Bolivian president Evo Morales remains popular in the South American nation after two years in office, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL published in El Deber. 50.6 per cent of respondents approve of Morales’ performance, while 42.1 per cent disapprove of it.

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.

In December, the governors of four of Bolivia’s nine provinces unilaterally declared them as autonomous to protest against the proposed Constitution. On Jan. 14, Morales and the governors met to discuss a pact of national unity. Morales’ cabinet chief Juan Ramón Quintana said the national government is willing to consider granting more autonomy to some of the regions that request it. Santa Cruz governor Rubén Costas said the opposition is asking for flexibility, adding, "We want a national accord for the country. Let’s see if the president has the political will to revise the Constitution."

The proposed Constitution must be ratified in a nationwide referendum.

Polling Data

Do you approve or disapprove of Evo Morales’ performance as president?

Approve	50.6%
Disapprove	42.1%

Source: Captura Consulting SRL / El Deber
Methodology: Interviews with 820 adult Bolivians in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, conducted from Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, 2007. No margin of error was provided.