I’m a political science professor who posts regularly on Bolivian politics. I also occasionally discuss interesting books, pop culture, and daily life with a toddler. I’ve recently moved to Oxford, Mississippi.
Results from Bolivia’s constitutional referendum are available from the CNE, which is still counting votes. Both because they’re not finished counting, and because I’m “Mr. Mom” for the next two days, I’ll hold my analysis for at least a few more days. But so far it’s starting to look as if the pattern from the August 2008 recall referendums is repeating itself.
You can click around the website & check it out for yourself. Hopefully, in a few days, more detailed data (sub-department level) will be made available to sift through by. If possible, we’ll (MABB & myself) try to include it in our upcoming MPSA paper.
Chuquisaca as a whole, with 100% counted:
52% Yes 48% No to new constitution
Breaking it down into provinces:
Oropeza--province where Sucre is located 34% yes
Luis Calvo, in the Chaco 60% yes
Other 8 provinces: 90,90,83,82,80,74,73,62% yes
Looks like Media Luna is a constellation.
Posted by
John
January 29, 2009 8:20 PM
Looks like most of the provinces of the department of Santa Cruz went for No (against the new constitution), although several, 3 or 4, did vote Yes. With over 99% counted.
Posted by
John
January 29, 2009 8:29 PM
Thanks, John! I've been to busy w/ job-related busywork to post those numbers myself. I'll provide more as soon as I can.
Sorry that this is completely off-topic. I just wanted to point out this very interesting front-page article in today's NY Times on Bolivia's lithium reserves.
According to the article, Bolivia holds the largest lithium reserves in the world, a mineral that will be in great demand for the new generation of electric cars, potentially making Bolivia some sort of Saudi Arabia of lithium. So far Evo's government is resisting the advances of multinationals interested in its exploitation, starting instead its own mining venture at a ridiculously small scale. Moreover, it is not clear in the new Constitution who actually holds the mineral rights to these reserves, whether the State or the communities around the Uyuni salt lake, which are already claiming them.
It looks like that is going to be an even more interesting saga than the one on natural gas.
