Democracy News

Evo Morales Elected to Second Term
December 9, 2009
By: Matt Levy | Printer Friendly

On December 6, voters reelected Bolivia’s first indigenous president, Evo Morales, by a wide margin; winning at least 61% of the vote according to the BBC. Broadening his popular support since the last election and expected to win a 2/3 majority in Bolivia’s Plurinational Legislative Assembly, President Morales seems poised to implement many of his far-reaching demands, most especially the passage of a new constitution, which would mandate greater inclusion of Bolivia’s majority indigenous population in government and society. As of yet, it is still unclear whether Mr. Morales’ party, the Movement to Socialism (MAS), has won a similar majority in the Chamber of Deputies, which would ensure quick passage of his agenda.

The Organization of American States, in a press release, congratulated the Bolivian people on a successful election with high levels of citizen participation as a key step in advancing democracy in the country. As the BBC notes, this election is particularly impressive in a country once characterized by military interventions and political instability.

With such a popular mandate and constitutional limits that prevent Mr. Morales from running for a 3rd 5-year term, the New York Times raises questions about whether Mr. Morales plans to further consolidate his power by removing term limits, as President Hugo Chavez recently did in Venezuela. Regardless, his election is an important step for consolidating democracy in Bolivia and for its indigenous people, as the OAS points out.

Sources:
BBC News - Bolivian president to deepen social revolution
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8400639.stm

New York Times - Morales Headed for Re-election in Bolivia
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/world/americas/07bolivia.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=bolivia&st=cse

Organization of American States – The Electoral Process Demonstrates Maturity & Strengthens Bolivian Democracy (in Spanish)
http://www.oas.org/OASpage/press_releases/press_release.asp?sCodigo=MOE-BOL-2