Bolivians Split on Removing Morales
Adults in Bolvia are divided in their assessment of Evo Morales, according to a poll by Captura Consulting SRL published in El Deber. 48.4 per cent of respondents would vote to remove their president in a referendum, while 46.1 per cent would cast a ballot to keep him in office.
Morales—an indigenous leader and former coca-leaf farmer—won the December 2005 presidential election as the candidate for the Movement to Socialism (MAS), with 53.7 per cent of the vote. He officially took over as Bolivia’s head of state in January 2006 and vowed to "re-found Bolivia" by enacting a new constitution.
In November 2007, a draft constitution was approved inside a military base in the vicinity of Sucre, with the support of all pro-government assembly members. Three people died and 20 more were injured during protests staged by the opposition to complain about the change of venue. The proposed draft includes articles that allow for consecutive presidential re-election, the creation of 36 autonomous indigenous communities, and tighter government controls over private media outlets.
On Dec. 12 in a televised address, Morales said he is willing to face a referendum on whether he should be removed from office and called for six opposition governors to do the same, declaring, "If the people say that I should go, I don’t have a problem with that. Let the people say who goes and who stays."
In August 2004, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez won a referendum on his tenure with 59 per cent of the vote. The special election was called after opposition organizations in Venezuela gathered 2.5 million signatures to force a recall ballot.
Polling Data
If a referendum on Evo Morales’ presidency took place today, how would you vote?
To remove Morales from office 48.4%
To allow Morales to continue 46.1%
No answer 5.5%
Source: Captura Consulting SRL / El Deber
Methodology: Interviews with 820 adult Bolivians in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, conducted from Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
Morales—an indigenous leader and former coca-leaf farmer—won the December 2005 presidential election as the candidate for the Movement to Socialism (MAS), with 53.7 per cent of the vote. He officially took over as Bolivia’s head of state in January 2006 and vowed to "re-found Bolivia" by enacting a new constitution.
In November 2007, a draft constitution was approved inside a military base in the vicinity of Sucre, with the support of all pro-government assembly members. Three people died and 20 more were injured during protests staged by the opposition to complain about the change of venue. The proposed draft includes articles that allow for consecutive presidential re-election, the creation of 36 autonomous indigenous communities, and tighter government controls over private media outlets.
On Dec. 12 in a televised address, Morales said he is willing to face a referendum on whether he should be removed from office and called for six opposition governors to do the same, declaring, "If the people say that I should go, I don’t have a problem with that. Let the people say who goes and who stays."
In August 2004, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez won a referendum on his tenure with 59 per cent of the vote. The special election was called after opposition organizations in Venezuela gathered 2.5 million signatures to force a recall ballot.
Polling Data
If a referendum on Evo Morales’ presidency took place today, how would you vote?
To remove Morales from office 48.4%
To allow Morales to continue 46.1%
No answer 5.5%
Source: Captura Consulting SRL / El Deber
Methodology: Interviews with 820 adult Bolivians in La Paz, El Alto, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba, conducted from Dec. 28 to Dec. 30, 2007. No margin of error was provided.
posted by Alice at
Monday, January 14, 2008
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