One year on, has Evo Morales really been the people’s President?
Jeanne:
August 8th, 2007
Last August Evo Morales was elected Bolivian President. Morales’ election was hardly unprecedented. South American politics have seen a clear shift to the left in recent years. One year on, however, has Morales done enough to alleviate Bolivian poverty? Bolivia is undoubtedly one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Whilst Brazil’s economy has been booming in recent years and Venezuela (despite the antics of Hugo Chavez) has benefited from its oil wealth, Bolivia has failed to make effective use of her natural resources.
Little appears to have changed in Bolivia during the past year. The Bolivian assembly has failed to deliver on a much-anticipated new constitution, the creation of which Mr. Morales’ party has demanded for some time now. Long-standing social disputes appear to fuel the disunity. Mr. Morales, a member of one of Bolivia’s indigenous tribes, has made numerous calls for unity within the country but these seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Speaking to crowds in Sucre, home of Bolivia’s constituent assembly, Morales stated:
It is important that our regions and our social movements unite and avoid a confrontation. Here, we are all Bolivians and we are all working for a better Bolivia.
Bolivia’s indigenous communities, however, remain unconvinced. Conamaq, a party representing Bolivian highlanders are scathing in their criticism of Evo Morales:
We thought he was our brother but he has betrayed us. The president has lied. He has sold the indigenous community to the rich elite.
Social disputes see to have created a whole host of other problems for the Morales government. Sucre residents have demanded that their capital, seat of Bolivia’s constituent assembly be made the country’s capital. However, officials in the current capital, La Paz seem less than willing to meet these demands.
In the long run, however, it is likely that the dire state of the Bolivian economy will prove most problematic to Mr. Morales. Inflation rose from 0.66% to 2.66% last month with further increases expected. As one analyst notes:
Bolivia is running the risk of alienating itself from the principal world markets and capital. If the errors that are currently being committed continue, we could be headed for commercial and financial suicide.
Undoubtedly, a stable body politic is essential if economic growth is to be achieved in Bolivia.