The two-week-long conflict between the government and the Opposition has caused for the state, meanwhile, costs in the amount of $ 1.5 billion. Bolivia is the next big hotspot in Latin America?
Bolivia is currently experiencing a deep political crisis, which is now already in the third week. President Evo Morales was on 20. October the winner of the presidential elections, explains what makes him a fourth term in view. The Opposition does not recognise the result of the counting, however, and is providing strong resistance. This polarization has been exacerbated in the last few weeks, so far, that hardly one of the two sides-supported solution seems to be possible.
The ongoing protests have also economic consequences
“What we see here is the struggle between a weakened government that will not take one step back, and an Opposition that smells just because of the great support of the people is your Chance. But currently, the Situation escalates to a degree that is a solution more and more into the distance,” says political Analyst Jorge Abastoflor in an interview with DW.
The economic cost of the protests
For the economic experts, Gonzalo Chávez, the government currently sits on the longer lever: “Should be the mess bigger, they can claim that the financial losses due to the protests and strikes go to the expense of the Opposition. That is, the time plays against the Opposition and the civic committees in the country”, emphasized Chavez.
According to a report by the national chamber of industry, the country has suffered due to the tense Situation already losses in the amount of ten billion Pesos Bolivianos (about $ 1.5 billion) to. “The economic consequences are severe. A company that has to close because of the strikes and protests temporarily, generates further costs in the Form of Rent, wages and other obligations. The majority of companies in Bolivia are family owned and have no financial reserves. If you are not able to offer your products and services, you must close forever,” says Rodolfo Ritcher, managing Director of the German-Bolivian chamber of industry and Commerce.
Criticism of the OAS
At the Moment, the population waiting anxiously, the organization of American States (OAS), to Express and position. The OAS is currently considering whether the victory of Evo Morales is lawful, or whether, as the Opposition claims, a electoral fraud is present.
President Evo Morales is convinced of his re-election.
“But we should not be gullible and think that the Review by the OAS would be a transparent process and that you will tell us at the end of the pure truth,” explains Gonzalo Chávez. “The OAS is an Association of thirty countries and is the judgment of this organization will be the result of a balancing of Interests of these countries to Bolivia. The people believe that the Review of the election results by the OAS, the real truth, the priority clearly lies with multilateral interests,” said Chávez.
The Power of the citizens ‘ Committee
Other observers are not so pessimistic and see the Review of the election result, the only way to fulfill one of the main demands of the Opposition: the cancellation of the presidential election.
“If the OAS to the conclusion that the election was manipulated, it changes everything. In this case, it is clear that the elections of 20. October would be due to proven irregularities, null and void. And so that would be the re-election of Evo Morales ineffective,” says Jorge Abastoflor.
Carlos Mesa (right) is hoping for a cancellation of the election.
After about two weeks of intense internal political disputes, a change in the traditional power seems to have a structure emerging: The current of the government’s opponents led the fight has no political party at its head. It is the so-called citizens Committee, behind the many and daily protest actions in the country. The opponent of Evo Morales in the presidential elections, Carlos Mesa, is the one who has been in the elections of the President, but he may have neither sufficient popularity, nor the support or credibility, to take the lead within the Opposition. The citizens ‘ Committee, however, have a wide support in the country and their fresh leader could point the way out of the political crisis.