Bolivia Congress Approves Law Extending Pres' Term Limits

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Bolivia Congress Approves Law Extending Pres' Term Limits

Tuesday April 14th, 2009 / 13h58

LA PAZ (AFP)--Bolivia's Congress on Tuesday approved a new electoral code which President Evo Morales had gone on hunger strike to demand.

The new legislation - approved after nine hours of intense debate - would allow Morales to run for a second term five-year term.

The bill sets rules for Dec. 6 elections under a controversial new constitution which also gives Bolivia's indigenous communities rights to territory and their own systems of justice.

Opposition lawmakers had delayed the passage of the bill, prompting Morales to go on a hunger strike that was to enter its sixth day on Tuesday.

"In these moments we are lifting the hunger strike" said Pedro Montes, a leading member of the Bolivian Workers' Center, which had called on thousands of supporters to mimic the fast.



Read more: http://www.easybourse.com/bourse-actualite/marches/bolivia-congress-approves-law-extending-pres-term-limits-650420

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This story was found first by DU'er rabs, in a Spanish source. It didn't become available in any available English source until a short time ago here. He translated the source for us:

EVO WINS ! Election law passed, ends hunger strike

Marathon session in Bolivian Senate ended (shortly after 4 a.m.) with approval of law calling for elections in December. Morales will be eligible for re-election.

Opposition senators who were blocking the measure caved in under pressure.

Morales announced he was ending five-day hunger strike. He should now be able to attend ALBA conference and Summit of the Americas.

Law calls for new voter IDs, authorizes Bolivians living abroad to vote, autonomy referendums for five departments (the Media Luna departments) and more voting rights for indigenous people.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x13958

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bolivian president ends hunger strike to promote law

Bolivian president ends hunger strike to promote law
Apr 14, 2009 10:59 AM

Eduardo Garcia
reuters

LA PAZ – Bolivia's congress approved a controversial electoral law today after leftist president Evo Morales went on a hunger strike for nearly five days to protest against opposition lawmakers blocking the bill.

The law sets presidential and congressional elections for December 6, assigns a small number of congressional seats to poor, indigenous areas where Morales is popular, and allows Bolivian expatriates to vote for the first time.

Opposition leaders had objected, claiming the bill would unfairly give the government an electoral advantage.

Recent polls suggest that Morales, the country's first indigenous president and a fierce critic of Washington, will likely win re-election.

More:
http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/618106