After a tense month (which followed several other tense months), Bolivia’s political situation shows signs of hope. Both the government & the opposition prefects (regional governors) have been meeting, w/ aims of coming to a solution that could integrate the new constitution w/ demands for regional autonomy. One standout is Pepelucho (José Luis Paredes), the opposition La Paz prefect, who’s begun challenging the government for its alleged neglect of the La Paz regional government.
In other news, Evo dismissed his previous presidential delegate to the National Electoral Court (Salvador Romero Ballivián), replacing him w/ José Luis Exeni. That was yesterday. Today, Exeni was named the CNE’s new president & three other members were dismissed.
Romero (who’s written a number of books on the history & development of Bolivia’s party system) was dismissed after he criticized Evo’s government for holding up foreign assistance meant to fund the CNE’s budget. Evo attacked the CNE for being a US puppet. The funds, however, came from Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden (home to International IDEA). The three CNE vice directors dismissed where: Gabriela Romero (Civic Education), Juan Carlos Villarroel (Goods & Services), and Miguel Serrano (Systems, after 15 years on the post). No word yet on their replacements. The CNE is scheduled to begin organizing the referendum election on the new draft constitution.
Exeni had been previously appointed to the CNE (as director of Civic Education), before leaving to work more closely w/ UNDP. He has a PhD in political science from FLACSO. (He also used to blog over at the now-defunct Fadocracia.) Romero will return to his position as faculty at both UMSA & the Universidad Católica, both in La Paz.
