Bolivia is dancing on a razor’s edge. But it’s been doing that for months, now. So are we merely witnessing the “institutionalization of instability”? In the past few days: Chuquisaca’s ex-prefect has resumed his post, the government & opposition are back to dialoguing, and things are slowly cooling down in some areas (they’re heating up in others).
The most hopeful move (in terms of ending the constituent assembly’s stalemate) is an agreement between MAS, MNR, Unidad Nacional, Camino al Cambio (MNR in Tarija), AYRA, MOP, and MIR. The agreement expresses “national unity” & will secure a 2/3 vote for the new constitution. PODEMOS, MBL, APB, and Concertación Nacional didn’t sign the agreement, arguing that the document didn’t include wording regarding respect for rule of law & democratic principles. The agreement, however, is only an agreement to (try to) come to an agreement—on the basis of “national unity”—in order to resolve the various items of political disagreement.
In the meantime, MAS continues to work on its own constitutional draft. Technically, this isn’t something that should happen outside the CA (constituent assembly). But certainly all parties are doing the same (though w/ less fanfare or publicity). Only weeks after announcing a draft, a meeting of MAS delegates produced a new draft constitution. Interestingly, this one removes the controversial “fourth branch” of government, replacing it w/ a looser, less structured mechanism for social participation.
Call me a pessimist, but I don't see how MAS and Podemos can ever reconcile or come to an agreement on a constitution due to their antithetical political philosophies. These differences go way beyond the red state, blue state division in the US.
Is there something so wrong with the current constitution that changing it brings the country to civil war? Can't the current Magna just be evenly enforced to help all? I find the idea of the CA working outside of the government to be an impediment to anything constuctive. A whole lot of what is going on would be illegal in the USA from both sides. Everyone sees how ridiculous Bolivia looks, everyone wants to leave, and the government is bringing everything to a stop. They need to hurry and decide before Evo decides to re-educate the children here too.
Roberto hits the nail on the head. Bolivia could go through 100 different constitutions, they could have the most perfect constitution in the world, but if it's not applied evenly or there is not a culture of the equality and rule of law, then it isn't worth the paper it's written on.
To me it's like a lot of pebble throwing. It keeps up the state of irritation and antagonism and yet is not enough to push to real civil action that would mean greater commitments. It's almost like there is an acceptance that this type of back and forth accusatory pattern has become part of the daily routine. Sadly, I do think the Bolivia image overall has gotten worse and as a nation it is losing ground in terms of integrity and maturity. So much time and money wasted.