Bolivian Government
Ratifies Constitution
Referendum
LIMA - The Bolivian
government said on
Tuesday that the country
will hold a referendum
on Dec. 7 to approve the
new constitution and
elect local authorities,
despite opposition by
the National Electoral
Court (CNE).
According to reports
reaching here from La
Paz, Bolivia's
administrative capital,
Legal Defense Minister
Hector Arce said the
decree for a referendum,
issued by President Evo
Morales on Aug. 28, is
completely
constitutional and must
be respected and
fulfilled by the CNE.
The CNE said Monday
there were "legal
impediments" to carry
out the referendum in
the cities of La Paz and
Cochabamba, and nine
provinces.
The CNE said the vote
needed the parliament's
approval to be carried
out, and only lawmakers
had the authority to set
a date for it. It added
that CNE Chairman Jose
Exeni had explained the
problem to Morales and
Vice President Alvaro
Garcia in a letter.
The Bolivian senate is
controlled by the
opposition.
But Arce said that
Exeni's letter did not
have a legal support,
and could not stop the
referendum.
Morales, now on his
visit to Iran, sought
the vote after winning a
67.41 percent vote of
confidence in an August
recall referendum, which
was also called by
Morales in an attempt to
beat opposition
governors defying his
reforms and demanding
autonomy.
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