Bolivia's President Morales ready for national vote of confidence

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Deutsche Presse Agentur

Bolivia's President Morales ready for national vote of confidence
Fri, 09 May 2008 04:36:06 GMT
Author : DPA


La Paz - Bolivian President Evo Morales said Thursday he was ready to withstand a national vote of confidence that was pushed through the opposition-run upper house of parliament. "This decision will give back to the Bolivian people the decision to say whether they are in favor of the process of change and justice or for the return to the past," said Morales, who was elected Bolivia's first indigenous president in 2005.

The referendum would require Morales, who won the presidency with 53.7 per cent of the vote, and Bolivia's nine state governors to win both more votes and a greater percentage of support than they did in 2005 ballot. If they fall short, they will have to run again in a new general election.

President Morales had first proposed a nationwide recall to Congress in January, as a means of solving the political crisis in the country amid disputes with several provinces.

On Sunday, a large majority in the province of Santa Cruz - the richest in the country - approved a proposal for more autonomy from the leftist government in a non-binding referendum, which Morales deemed illegal.

Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/204282,bolivias-president-morales-ready-for-national-vote-of-confidence.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bolivian president agrees to vote of confidence

May 8, 2008 -- Updated 0245 GMT (1045 HKT)

Bolivian president agrees to vote of confidence



(CNN) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales said Thursday he supports a congressional decision to hold a referendum on whether he and his administration should remain in power amid a move for autonomy that he opposes.

"We politicians can't forget that the people decide the destiny of the country, the presidents, the prefects," he said in a televised address from the presidential palace in La Paz.

"Democracy is to be defined at the ballot box, not through violence," he said. "How many times have we said yes to the ballot box, no to the arms?"
(snip)

"I want the people of Bolivia to know we are a government that respects the people, that respects legality, that respects the National Congress, but we also respect the decisions of conscience," said the leftist president, who was voted into office in 2005 for a six-year term.

"With this small experience of two years, we want to serve better," he said. "But the people will decide, based on what we've done so far."

"I hope that the wisdom of the people, the conscience of the people obliges the Congress to accelerate the changes."

More:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/08/bolivia.referendum/index.html