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Evo Morales en route to reelection
• Bolivia’s President presents
12-point government program to his party and leaders
of principal social organizations
Lídice Valenzuela García
Bolivia has experienced sustained growth under the
leadership of President Evo Morales, who is running
for reelection this coming October 12, with a new
12-point programmatic agenda, which could allow the
country to become one of South America’s most
developed economies, devoted to the goal of buen
vivir, a good life for all with social justice
and equality.
President Evo Morales is currently
supported by 60% of voters, going
into the October elections. Photo:
Reynaldo Zaconeta.
When
Morales assumed office for the first time in 2005,
capitalist technocrats and the regional right wing
thought he wouldn’t last long, lacking, they
believed, the knowledge needed to carry out the
anti-neoliberal policies proposed in his campaign,
with the goal of creating a new nation.
The
President, however, not only outwitted enemies who
attempted to overthrow him, but ensured that
Bolivia’s economy maintained a steady growth rate
over the last 13 years, generating earnings which
were used to meet social needs, thanks to new
policies not based on market laws.
This
past year, the country’s economy grew at a rate of
6.8%, and its reserves went from eight billion
dollars in 2006, to 33 billion currently. According
to estimates by the International Monetary Fund,
this trend should continue, with a growth rate of
5.1% forecast for this year, and 6.8% in 2015.
The
Morales government nationalized the economy’s most
important sectors – oil and gas – and promoted
industrialization of these, along with that of
lithium, and has to its credit a transparent system
of administration, which has not, to date, allowed
for incidents of corruption, or the misappropriation
of funds, ills afflicting some other Latin American
nations.
Economic expansion is expected to be strengthened by
the country’s new foreign investment law, which
should be a success given careful planning and
security offered investors.
Bolivia also has to its advantage, extensive lithium
reserves, 85% of the metal worldwide. Industrial
processing of this high-demand resource, within the
country, will be expanded over the next seven years.
The
President recently presented his new platform to
members of the Movimiento al Socialismo, MAS
(Movement toward Socialism) and other national
leaders, outlining the 12 essential points he would
emphasize if reelected, fundamentally focused on
economic and social issues.
Analysts believe the so-called Evo-factor is
fundamental to the realization of these great plans
for a nation which has historically been known for
repeated coup d’etats. His modesty, charisma and
popular communication skills have allowed him to
unite the country - once fragmented both ethnically
and regionally - and mobilize support for a common
objective.
The
government platform’s agenda items are ambitious,
but achievable, since Morales has carefully
formulated economic plans and enjoys the
population’s majority support, especially among
descendents of original peoples.
Participants in the meeting to discuss the new
government plan included MAS representatives, the
Bolivian Workers’ Federation executive (COB),
ministers, deputy ministers, governors, mayors and
legislators.
The
platform includes proposed action in social,
economic, productive and political spheres, and will
be subsequently considered by the country’s
principal social organizations, such as the COB and
its affiliates, so that it becomes a true national
project.
Among the most important goals of the government
plan are the reduction of extreme poverty to 9%;
construction of some 100,000 new homes; development
of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; ending the
importation of gasoline; construction of four
specialized hospitals equipped with the latest
technology; and the creation of new jobs for
recently graduated professionals.
During his presentation, the President recalled that
when he took office in 2005, extreme poverty stood
at 38%, which with considerable effort has been
lowered to 18%, although there remain citizens
living in precarious conditions in 100 of the
country’s 339 municipalities.
He
emphasized that by 2020, 100% of the urban
population should have access to potable water, 90%
in rural areas, while sewer systems should serve 80%
of urban dwellers, and 60% of rural residents.
The
electrical system is planning to eliminate the use
of oil lamps for illumination, still necessary in
some communities, projecting that the entire country
will have access to electricity by 2025, Morales
reported.
Morales explained, “After this great meeting, we
will officially present the 2015-2020 Government
Program to the Supreme Electoral Court,” adding that
the plan had been extensively discussed with cabinet
members and Vice President Álvaro García Linera.
In
the social arena, proposed is the construction of
four specialized hospitals - focused on Cardiology;
Neurosurgery and Nephrology; Oncology; and
Gastroenterology - plus 40 general hospitals, all
fully equipped with the latest technology.
In
education, school schedules are to be extended, and
new subjects added to the curriculum to elevate
culture in general, while three sports stadiums with
a capacity of 60,000 each will be constructed in the
cities of La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz, in
addition to centers for high performance athletes
and semi-Olympic pools in rural areas.
The
country’s housing stock will be expanded with the
building of 83,000 dwellings, including 43,000
apartments in multi-family buildings and 40,300
houses. Additionally projected is the repair of
125,000 homes in poor condition.
The
President insisted that, during the nine years of
his administration, Bolivia has achieved political
and economic liberation, and that, if he is
reelected, the country’s fundamental task will be
technological and scientific liberation, based on
the development of research and innovation centers,
which will be assured of investment.
Currently, the Morales-García Linera ticket is
supported by more than 60% of voters, while
opposition parties have yet to unite under a common
banner for the October elections. (Cubahora)
EVO
MORALES GOVERNMENT’S 2015-2020 PROGRAM
1.
Elimination of extreme poverty
2.
Basic services
3.
Together for a dignified Bolivia (Health)
4.
Technological-Scientific Independence Revolution
5. A
productive, industrialized nation with employment
6.
Promotion of our food
7.
Water for life and respect for Mother Earth
8.
An integrated Bolivia
9.
Taking care of the present to assure the future
10.
Together for a safe nation
11.
Revolutionize Bolivian justice
12.
All for a new world order
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