It was a farily predictable outcome (at least I thought so). But Evo is offering regional autonomy in exchange for support for the draft constitution. The draft constitution includes regional autonomy, of course. And, as I pointed out before, the distance between that model & some of the “autonomic statutes” wasn’t great.
The new draft CPE (constitution) is a bit convoluted—and perhaps includes some rhetorical niceties that are difficult to interpret, define, or translate into coherent policy—but there’s nothing seriously “wrong” w/ it (at least not in the sense of it being “racist” or “totalitarian” as some critics claim). In most ways, it follows a “social constitutional” tradition begun in Bolivia in the 1930s (w/ the Busch constitution) & inspired by the 1917 Mexican constitution (but w/ a post-modern pluralist twist). Let’s hope the opposition is smart enough to take the deal; it could mean a rare (and much-needed) face-saving win-win for both sides.
How does the CPE accommodate non-government ownership of basic utilities in the pro autonomy departments?
I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. But it would probably require that utilities at least operate for the "social good" (an element in the constitution consistent since the 1930s). I also think public utilities would be popular in the pro autonomy departments, too. Though I suspect the prefects would want to control them.
I don't know about that. People like to set up their own coops.