Bolivia's New Constitution - Actually A Good Idea

Bolivia yesterday approved its new constitution by a fairly large margin, with 60% voting yes on the document, whose main features are greater rights for indigenous groups and greater powers for the president.

Criticism is already piling up for Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president, and a very controversially leftist figure in an incredibly polarised country where the wealthy, rich, and very white minority control Eastern portions of Bolivia, as opposed to the vast majority of poor indigenous Bolivians that form the hinterland. The constitution is being framed as a vaguely Chavez-esque power-grab, yet another ill-fated foray into socialism that simply won't work.

But the constitution itself (see a summary here) is really quite good. The proposed changes give greater rights to self-determination for the country's 36 indigenous groups, as well as reserving them a seat in Congress. Land tenure has had a (fairly high) ceiling imposed to curb landowner domination, religious and sexual freedom is guaranteed (which the rich white Catholics are really freaking out over), and the Supreme Court has been reformed such that judges are now popularly elected, rather than appointed by Congress. All in all, these seem like reasonable, fair changes, actually intended to improve the country. The only cynical rider is Morales's change of the re-election rules, which normally allow a maximum two non-consecutive terms. Morales has changed this to allow two consecutive terms, instead. This is unfortunate, but a long way from Chavez and his dreams of being president-for-life.

But that doesn't mean the constitution won't be bad for the country. Bolivia's natural gas wealth is concentrated in the rich, white-dominated regions of Santa Cruz and its surroundings, and the opposition leaders there seem more than willing to tear the country apart before accepting a more prominent role for socialism or the marginalised indigenous groups. Morales needs to offer something to these constituents too. He can't survive long if he insists on implementing reforms in spite of a third of his country.