Bolivia's Political
Crisis Worsens
Bolivia's political
impasse between the
central government and
provincial governments
worsened Friday as
President Evo Morales
abruptly announced the
slashing of provincial
budgets.
Morales announced a plan
to cut revenues
provinces receive from
natural gas exports by
30 percent and to use
the savings to carry out
social programs favored
by his ruling party.
This plan apparently has
worsened the political
deadlock between the
president and local
governments.
The opposition
immediately accused him
of breaking his previous
promise to negotiate
with local governments
to incorporate their
demands for autonomy
into a new constitution
proposed by him.
Branko Marinkovic, an
opposition leader from
eastern Santa
Cruzprovince, said the
government claimed it
wanted dialogue, but it
did exactly the opposite
by cutting the revenues
of provinces.
"I think the Bolivian
people are tired of this
double-speak and the
constant lies we are
living in this country,"
he told the media.
Four of Bolivia's nine
provinces, located in
eastern Bolivia and rich
in oil and gas, declared
independence last month
to protest the proposed
constitution. They said
the constitution
neglected their rights
and demands.
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