Bolivia Votes on New Autonomous Rule for Regions

Millions of Bolivians are expected to vote in a referendum Sunday in five of the country’s nine departments over extending autonomous powers.

Bolivian President Evo Morales cast his vote early in Villa 14 de Septiembre, Cochabamba, and called on citizens to vote to join the process to decide their future.

“Today five departments have the enormous responsibility of passing or rejecting their Autonomous Statutes. I want to call on the people of those five departments to participate in their right to reject or pass, but it is important to participate,” he said.

Bolivian President Evo Morales casts his vote early in Villa 14 de Septiembre, Cochabamba. | Photo: ABI

On Saturday, authorities in the Andean country urged the population to exercise their rights in peace and order.

“The fundamental thing is to guarantee that all passes in peace and order,” said vice minister of the interior, Marcelo Elio.

Around 3.8 million Bolivians are eligible to vote in the poll in the departments of La Paz, Oruro, Potosi, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca, while 17,000 police officers were called up to safeguard its smooth running.

Morales seeks to institutionalize decentralized rule in the areas of administration and finance throughout the country’s nine departments. ​The departments of Pando and Tarija have already implemented their autonomy statutes.

In a step towards devolution, last May the government approved an autonomy law, which establishes different levels of decentralization and also includes a measure that will define revenue distribution from natural resource exploitation.

Under the details of the new autonomy law, the central government will maintain control over foreign, fiscal, energy and security policies.

As well as the departmental autonomy statutes, residents of Totora Marka in Oruro and Charagua in Santa Cruz will vote on whether to become autonomous Indigenous territories.