Politics of Bolivia
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The politics of Bolivia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
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[edit] Overview
Bolivia's 1967 constitution, revised in 1994, provides for balanced executive, legislative, and judicial powers. The traditionally strong executive, however, tends to overshadow the National Congress. The judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court and departmental and lower courts, has long been riddled with corruption and inefficiency. Through revisions to the constitution in 1994, and subsequent laws, the government has initiated potentially far-reaching reforms in the judicial system and processes.
Hugo Banzer Suárez was elected president in 1997. No candidate received a majority of the popular vote, but Banzer won a congressional runoff election on 5 August, 1997 after forming a "megacoalition", Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was chosen president by Congress, winning an 84-43 vote against contestant Evo Morales. Following the resignation of the elected 18, 2005, the Socialist indigenous leader, Evo Morales, was elected president.
[edit] Executive branch
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Evo Morales | Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) | 22 January 2006 |
| Vice President | Álvaro García Linera | Movement for Socialism (MAS) | 22 January 2006 |
The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote. Elected president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada resigned in October 2003, and was substituted by vice-president Carlos Mesa. Mesa was in turn replaced by chief justice of the Supreme Court Eduardo Rodríguez in June 2005. Six months later, on December 18, 2005, the Socialist indigenous leader,
[edit] Legislative branch
The bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of the Chamber of Senators (Cámara de Senadores) (27 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados) (130 seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms).
[edit] Political parties and elections
| Candidates | Nominating parties | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Evo Morales Ayma Álvaro García Linera |
Movement Toward Socialism | 1,544,374 | 53.7 |
| Jorge Fernando "Tuto" Quiroga Ramírez María Renée de los Ángeles Duchén Cuéllar |
Democratic and Social Power | 821,745 | 28.6 |
| Samuel Jorge Doria Medina Auza Carlos Fernando Dabdoub Arrien |
National Unity Front | 224,090 | 7.8 |
| Michiaki Nagatani Morishita Guillermo Luis Bedregal Gutiérrez |
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement | 185,859 | 6.5 |
| Felipe Quispe Huanca Camila Choqueticlla |
Indigenous Pachakuti Movement | 61,948 | 2.2 |
| Gildo Angulo Cabrera Gonzalo José Silvestre Quiroga Soria |
New Republican Force | 19,667 | 0.7 |
| Eliceo Rodríguez Pari Rodolfo Antonio Flores Morelli |
Agrarian Patriotic Front of Bolivia | 8,737 | 0.3 |
| Néstor García Rojas Teodomiro Rengel Huanca |
Social Union of the Workers of Bolivia | 7,381 | 0.3 |
| Total (turnout: 84.5 %) | 2,873,801 | 100.0 | |
| Null votes | 104,570 | 3.4 | |
| Blank votes | 124,027 | 3.0 | |
| Total votes | 3,102,417 | 100.0 | |
| Registered voters | 3,671,152 | ||
| Source: CNE | |||
| Parties | Votes | % | Deputies | Senators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movement Toward Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo) | 1,544,374 | 53.7 | 72 | 12 |
| Social and Democratic Power (Poder Democrático y Social, PODEMOS) | 821,745 | 28.6 | 43 | 13 |
| National Unity Front (Frente de Unidad Nacional) | 224,090 | 7.8 | 8 | 1 |
| Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario) | 185,859 | 6.5 | 7 | 1 |
| Indigenous Pachakuti Movement (Movimiento Indígena Pachakuti) | 61,948 | 2.2 | - | - |
| New Republican Force (Nueva Fuerza Republicana) | 19,667 | 0.7 | - | - |
| Agrarian Patriotic Front of Bolivia (Frente Patriótico Agropecuario de Bolivia) | 8,737 | 0.3 | - | - |
| Social Union of the Workers of Bolivia (Unión Social de los Trabajadores de Bolivia) | 7,381 | 0.3 | - | - |
| Total (turnout: 84.534 %) | 2,873,801 | 100.0 | 130 | 27 |
| Null votes | 104,570 | 3.4 | ||
| Blank votes | 124,027 | 3.0 | ||
| Total votes | 3,102,417 | 100.0 | ||
| Registered voters | 3,671,152 | |||
| Source: CNE and Rulers | ||||
Other parties include:
- Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB – Romel Pantoja
- Civic Solidarity Union or UCS – Johnny Fernández
- Free Bolivia Movement or MBL – Franz Barrios
- Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA – Freddy Zabala
- Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR – Jaime Paz Zamora
- Movement Without Fear or MSM – Juan Del Granado
- Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN – Jorge Fernando Quiroga
- Socialist Party or PS – Jeres Justiniano
[edit] Social movements
Some of Bolivia's social movements are:
- Cocalero Groups – Evo Morales
- indigenous organizations
- "El Alto" Social Movements Roberto De La Cruz
- Aymara Indigenous Confederate Movements Felipe Quispe
- "El Alto" FEJUVE Abel Mamani
- labor unions
- Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB – Roman Loayaza
- Autonomic Oriental Party
[edit] Judicial branch
- Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress
- District Courts (one in each department)
- Provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)
[edit] Local government
Bolivia is divided in nine departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija. Bolivia's nine departments received greater autonomy under the Administrative Decentralization law of 1995. Departmental autonomy further increased with the first popular elections for departmental governors, known as prefects, on 18 December 2005. Bolivian cities and towns are governed by directly elected mayors and councils. Municipal elections were held on 5 December 2004, with councils elected to five-year terms. The Popular Participation Law of April 1994, which distributes a significant portion of national revenues to municipalities for discretionary use, has enabled previously neglected communities to make striking improvements in their facilities and services.
[edit] International affairs
International organization participation: CAN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
[edit] References
- This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
- This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain.
[edit] See also
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