Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Evo Morales and Bolivia

   Evo Who?  Yes, the twice elected indigenous president of the land-locked South American country.  He wants to change the constitution so he can continue to be the "Man".  Why is it in Latin America(among others) countries, the leaders want to stay forever?
Update 2/25/16
     Voters turned out and tuned in to real change:  so much for a 'new' Latin American dictator for life.  Evo Morales' effort to alter the Bolivian constitution have failed as voters firmly rejected his effort to rewrite the law extending his presidency by another 5 years from 2020 to 2025.  Recent corruption probes have damaged his reputation; personal problems with a Chinese executive woman(they had a child together 10 years ago) resurfaced.
     Mr. Morales joins other Latin American leaders who are on the outs with locals:
Kristina Kirchner in Argentina,
Dilma Rousseff in Brazil(in combo w/ her predecessor Luis Ignacio Lula De Silva),
Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela,
Rafael Correa in Ecuador.
      Populism has been a mainstay of Latin American politics since the early 20th century; but, its record has been dismal since the post WW II era began.  Less than 10 years ago, economists were heralding Brazil's surging growth and development, especially in energy expansion.  With the Olympics slated to open there in a few months, the excitement has been tempered by arrests and indictments related to the vast corruption involving state-owned oil giant PetroBras.
     In Colombia, negotiations with rebel group F.A.R.C. appear to be on the brink of a settlement that will end the 50 year old insurgency.   Perhaps peace is at hand there.

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