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.
