By W.T. Whitney, Jr.
The stakes were high for President Evo Morales going into
presidential and legislative elections on December 6. "We have gained
the government but still don't have power," he said.
That
worry is over. Morales, Vice President Alvaro García Linera, and the
Movement toward Socialism Party (MAS) swept up 62 percent of the
ballots cast by 5.1 million voters to win a second four year term.
Trailing by up to 40 points in pre-election polls, lead opponent
Manfred Reyes of the Progressive Plan for Bolivia party took 23 percent
of the votes. He was already ticketed for a December 8 American
Airlines departure for Miami. The former Cochabamba prefect, a School
of the Americas graduate, faces corruption charges.
Morales became president in January 2006 following an unprecedented
53.7 percent win. On August 14, 2008, Morales and his vice president
gained a 67 percent majority in a recall vote.
The main question before the vote this week was whether MAS could
secure the two thirds senate majority - 24 of 36 senators - necessary
for approving constitutional changes, key legislation, and
appointments. Lacking that, the Morales government has been unable to
name judges and high treasury officials, or pass universal health
insurance and anti-corruption legislation. MAS candidates took 25
senate seats to remedy that situation.
At issue, suggested political scientist Franklin Pareja, was
implementation of the new constitution approved last January by a 59
percent MAS majority. That victory capped two years of tumultuous,
violence-ridden struggle fomented by a European descended, wealthy
elite who control agricultural and hydrocarbon-endowed regions in
eastern Bolivia.
The new constitution introduces "important transformations,"
suggested election official Antonio Costas, especially broadened
political participation by women, youth, and indigenous peoples. The
three are forms of advanced democracy: direct and participatory
democracy, representative democracy, and a communitarian variety
promoting autonomy for indigenous peoples. Some 60 percent of Bolivians
are indigenous. Morales is Bolivia's first indigenous head of state
since the Europeans' arrival.
Voters approved a referendum granting autonomy to 12 indigenous
municipalities. The new constitution contains autonomy provisions
affecting five departments. They also passed. Four departments in
eastern Bolivia had voted approval earlier.
Overall results were shaped in large part by weakening of opposition
groups in Bolivia's east, due largely to the discovery last April in
Santa Cruz, the opposition epicenter, of a potentially violent
anti-Morales plot. National police made arrests and killed three armed
suspects originating from Romania, Ireland, and Hungary. A legislative
commission last week released the names of likely accomplices. Topping
the list are Santa Cruz political chieftains Rubén Costas and Branco
Marinkovic, each a vociferous Morales antagonist.
Some 170,000 Bolivians living abroad voted absentee for the first
time. Election officials introduced biometric voter identification
technology. Election observers were ubiquitous, especially from the
Organization of American States and European Union.
Before the election, some suggested that the first Morales term was
remarkable less for accomplishments than for turning Morales into an
international and domestic icon. Morales supporters, however, cite
achievements over four years contributing to the victory.
The minimum wage increased 47 percent, currency reserves are up from
$1 billion to $8.7 billion; and the GDP grew three percent last year.
Electricity costs are down 25 percent, natural gas 50 percent. Extreme
poverty has fallen from 37 to 31 percent.
Peasant communities have received 1,400 free tractors, and $237
million have been spent on 2,810 public works, sanitation, and drinking
water projects. Agrarian reform has delivered 10 million acres to poor
farmers with another 25 million acres ready for transfer.
Nationalization of hydrocarbons led to $5 billion being transferred
to local governments and universities. That funding has provided
pregnant women and babies with $257 each, 700,000 seniors with $342
annually, and two million young students with annual grants for school
supplies.
Bolivia is one of seven countries with the sharpest drop recently in
infant mortality. Illiteracy has been eradicated, and 450,000 free eye
operations have been performed. Free health care is available. Bolivia
is now a "plurinational" state representing 36 nationalities. Three
indigenous universities have been founded. Unemployment, however, rose
from 10.2 percent to 11 percent over the past year.
"The results will mark another milestone for the country," Morales
commented, "because the so-called half moon area (the contentious
eastern departments) will no longer exist, being converted into a full
moon of unity among all Bolivians."
People's World