MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Most Bolivians demand full renewal of Congress

Eight out of ten Bolivians are requesting caretaker president Eduardo Rodríguez to call a general election which includes the renewal of the Executive and all congressional seats, according to an opinion poll published Sunday in La Paz.

Captura Consulting shows that 84% of those interviewed are demanding an election that includes the renewal of the entire Congress, while 13,9% are against the initiative. Similarly 66,7% favour presidential elections with 28% disapproving.

Mr. Rodríguez was named caretaker president last June 9, following Congress's approval of former president Carlos Mesa resignation in the midst of political turmoil that had paralyzed the country.

According to the Bolivian constitution Mr. Rodríguez must call an election for president and vice president so they can complete the current mandate which ends in August 2007. Mr. Mesa had not completed three years in office.

Therefore technically Mr. Rodríguez can't call a general election (congressional) and can't promote any election with results beyond August 2007.

La Paz daily La Prensa quoting political analysts says that only an "interpretative bill of the Constitution could open the way for a general election that would include the renewal of the Legislative branch which concludes in 2007".

The public opinion poll also indicated that 51% are against closing Congress while 45,6% demand its suspension.

"This reflects the extreme de-legitimization of institutions and authorities", says analysts Jorge Lazarte who suggests that Bolivians are demanding politicians "to better synchronize with the needs of the country".

The poll was taken in Bolivia's cities most involved in the recent demonstrations. Bolivia faced for weeks popular unrest with massive street demonstrations and road blockades in demand for the nationalization of the energy industry and a Constitutional assembly which took the country to "the brink of civil war".

Over the weekend life was returning to normal as fuel and food provisions began arriving again to the main towns.

However for the most radical protesters who are waiting for their key demands on natural gas and constitutional reforms to guarantee more rights for Indians to be met, the current situation is described as a truce with government.

Urban protesters in El Alto, a sprawling poor city in the mountains above La Paz, ended the three-week occupation at the only gasoline distribution plant for La Paz, but warned they will restart protests if they don't get answers to their demands.

"We haven't heard anything regarding our request for a meeting with President Rodriguez", said Edgar Patana, a labour leader from El Alto.

"I don't know when the meeting will happen. I expect within the next few days. We're going to keep asking for the nationalization of hydrocarbons".