Breaking news: Official results show clear support for the new Bolivian constitution

Monday 2nd February 2009 (11:00 am)

The national electoral court has just announced the official results of the constitutional referendum that was approved by 61.43 per cent against a NO vote of 38.57 per cent. This much was known as early as the day of the referendum on Sunday 25th January.
However, what was not entirely clear was the result of Chuquisaca. In this department, notable for the violent racism of the opposition to the process of change, the Si vote won by 51.54 per cent against 48.46 per cent. We will see if this is enough to keep the prefect of Chuquisaca quiet about civil disobedience and resistance to the implementation of the new constitution, calls she made on the very day of the referendum.
Thus, contrary to reports being spread by private TV channels on the day of the referendum, the YES option to the constitution has won in five out of the nine departments in the country.
Will this be enough for leaders of the opposition? No. Will they accept the democratic will of the people? Not a chance. Since the very day of the referendum, both the prefect of Santa Cruz Ruben Costas, and the president of the civic committee Branko Marinkovic have been calling for the government’s ‘respect’ of the minority’s ‘vision’ of the country.
Ignoring completely the constitutional text approved by the majority of Bolivians, they have advocated the creation of a confederate state that permits the four departments in which the No vote has won, to pursue their own interests. Showing audacity beyond limit, the example they propose is that reflected in the relationship between China and Hong Kong; priceless.