Referendum in Bolivia passed

Bolivian citizens successfully managed to amend Article 168 of the Constitution. The amendment in question concerned whether the president could be re-elected for a forth term.

 

Winning the favor of Evo Morales

Preliminary partial estimates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) show that 67,68% voted "Yes" and 32.38% - "No". If results released other sites will be identical, then the current president and vice president will be able to run again for their posts in the presidential elections to be held in Bolivia in 2019. This means that course of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in domestic and foreign policy will remain unchanged until 2025.

 

Participation

Total participation in the referendum of the Plurinational State of Bolivia amounted to 6,242,112 registered citizens, or 80% of the population eligible to vote. Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, in his address on polling day, said that the government will respect the decision on the Constitutional Reform of the people. "This is democracy, this s participation, not as it was in 1994 when Congress amended the Constitution without consulting the people", - he said.

37 local political and social organizations acted as observers as well as representatives of UNASUR and the Organization of American States.

Effects

The victory of the factions supporting Evo Morales is not only the choice of Bolivian citizens for the future of their country, but also represents a defeat of the US and the neoliberals. In Latin America, Bolivia is one of the few countries that has successfully confronted provocation by the security services and funds of the United States. The official strategy of the current leadership of Bolivia is centered around multipolar geopolitics and the preservation of Latin American traditions.

Related links
Latin America: trends and forecast for 2016
Bolivia
Referendum