Much Ado about Nothing? Bolivia's Constituent Elections
Could President Evo Morales's recent victory in the constituent assembly election be a sign of change toward a more unified vision for Bolivia's future? The electoral results may give him a historic opportunity to finally extricate Bolivia from its past, yet his clear electoral victory hides significant drawbacks.
* In spite of the 51 percent of votes in his favor, President Morales does not control the constituent assembly, a sign his nationalist policies have failed to increase his popularity and appeal among a wider share of the population.
* President Morales will need to seek compromises to make headway in the constituent assembly. This could slow his transformation of Bolivia into a socialist nation following the example of Venezuela.
* There is, however, still the possibility that President Morales will enter in direct conflict with the regions, further dividing the government from potential allies and increasing the split within the country.
