MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New elections proposed to solve Bolivian crisis

Bolivian President Carlos Mesa in a dramatic appeal on national television Tuesday night announced he would propose Congress advancing elections as the only possible mechanism to put an end to the ongoing social-political crisis that threatens to engulf the country in a blood bath.

Mr. Mesa, who last week presented Congress his resignation but gained political strength when legislators overwhelmingly ratified him in office, justified the latest decision by saying that opposition groups in Congress, particularly the powerful Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) controlled by coca-growers leader and Deputy Evo Morales, have bogged the government's Hydrocarbons Law and strangled the country's economy with continuous road blockades.

Mr. Morales MAS, peasant groups and trade unions want multinational energy corporations which are involved in the exploitation of the country's abundant natural gas resources to pay a 50% hydrocarbon royalty. President Mesa, the business sector and many moderate legislators feel that such an increase from the current 18% royalty could simply scare away foreign investment and put impoverished Bolivia, --highly dependent from international financial aid--, "on its knees".

In his speech Mr. Mesa proposed calling national elections next August 28, two years ahead, and simultaneously convening a constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution. The new elected authorities would take office September 28.

President Mesa went on national television following a meeting with several political leaders who believe that the current "ideological debate with two different visions of the country" which has led Bolivia to the verge of such an explosive situation can only be solved by "letting the people speak out in the polls".

"Anticipating elections is possibly the most peaceful solution to the current conflict", said Jose Luis Paredes, the powerful mayor of El Alto, a city close to Bolivia's capital La Paz.

Political agreements between the president and political parties are "insufficient" to solve the problem, as are the road blockades promoted by MAS and Evo Morales, and the dialogue initiatives sponsored by the country's ombudsman Walso Albarracin, indicated Mauro Bertero, leader of a conservative faction that usually manages to join the ruling coalition in Bolivia.

"The only way out is electing new president, vicepresident and a new Congress", emphasized Mr. Bertero.