Bolivian Congress to Start Project Discussion
The Bolivian Congress opens discussions Friday on a crucial government bill to call for a constituent assembly, an initiative that is already facing resistance from the rightwing and regional groups.

The importance of the issue was highlighted Thursday by Senator Antonio Peredo, chairman of the Senate Constitution Commission, of the governing Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).

Peredo said the process is not only geared to introduce changes in the country, but also to refound the Republic with broad popular participation and aimed at putting an end to neoliberalism and historic exclusion, according to President Evo Morales´ political program.

The refoundation will be written in a new Constitution, which will guarantee the country´s harmonic development, he said, reminding that the bill should be put to a vote and passed in the first week of March for the Assembly to be established in August.

Peredo underlined as progress in the government´s bill that it guarantees, at least, that women fill a third of the Assembly and that it makes possible to elect youths aged 18 and above.

While highlighting the importance of the Constituent Assembly, President Morales stressed that that the people´s strength and mobilization will be necessary to pressure lawmakers to make the project viable.