Bolivian President to Offer Resignation

[struggle4progress]

Monday March 7, 2005 3:01 AM


AP Photo NY120

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) - Bolivian President Carlos Mesa announced Sunday he would offer his resignation, saying in a televised address that recent protests were ``blocking the country.''

Mesa took office in October 2003, succeeding President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, who resigned in the wake of bloody street protests that took the lives of at least 56 people. Mesa's government has struggled with a growing push for greater political autonomy in Bolivia's most prosperous region.

``Tomorrow, I will submit my resignation to the president of Congress, so Congress can make a decision,'' Mesa said in a nationally broadcast address.

In February, he shuffled his cabinet after massive street protests calling for regional autonomy and objecting to a planned increase in the price of fuel oil. <snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4845975,00.html

[Skink]

1. Did we just organize a Coup?

Or are the Socialists waiting to get in and the U.S. backed coup occurs later.

[bemildred]

2. Hard to say.

Mesa has been in a difficult situation and under pressure for some
time from a number of directions, and he's not really the power-mad
type. If I had to guess he is punting to the Congress here. As for
what Uncle Sugar is up to, I would have to know if we have a replacement
in the wings that we want to install, there is none I know of at this
point. I have been rather figuring Mesa might quit or get fired
sometime, but I'm not aware of any US actions other than being one
of the entities applying pressure on him.

[bemildred]

3. The US is applying pressure over the ICC immunity issue too. nt