News Anti-US leftist clinches Bolivia election

  • Thread starter Thread starter fourier jr
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Evo Morales, a leftist former coca leaf farmer, is set to become Bolivia's first indigenous president following a significant electoral victory, securing over 50% of the vote. He aims to nationalize the country's natural gas industry and reverse U.S.-backed coca eradication efforts, emphasizing a commitment to social justice and equality. The discussion reflects broader trends in Latin America, where leftist leaders like Morales and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez are seen as responses to U.S. influence and corporate exploitation. While some view Morales as a genuine leftist, others express skepticism about the sincerity of leftist rhetoric among regional leaders, noting a tendency for them to align with foreign investments once in power. Morales has made headlines by cutting his own salary significantly, pledging to redirect funds toward public services. The conversation also touches on the implications of Morales's presidency for Bolivia's relationship with the U.S. and the potential for political change across Latin America.
fourier jr
Messages
764
Reaction score
13
Anti-US leftist clinches Bolivia election

Dec 18, 2005 — By Kevin Gray

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Evo Morales, a leftist former coca leaf farmer vowing to be a "nightmare for the U.S.," was poised to become Bolivia's first indigenous president on Sunday after likely clinching one of the biggest electoral victories in the country's history.

Morales appeared certain to take office in January when his rivals conceded defeat and results tabulated by local media showed him garnering slightly more than 50 percent of the vote, much higher than predicted.

"Beginning tomorrow Bolivia's new history really begins, a history where we
will seek equality, justice, equity, peace and social justice," Morales told hundreds of supporters amid chants of "Evo President! Evo President!" at his campaign headquarters in the central city of Cochabamba.

A high-school dropout who herded llamas as a boy, Morales has vowed to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas industry and roll back a U.S.-backed eradication program of coca, a key ingredient used to make cocaine but also prized by Indians for traditional medicinal uses.
...

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1419749

venezuela, argentina, uruguay, brazil, ecuador, (maybe) mexico, & now bolivia... when is this going to happen in Canada?! obviously not in the upcoming january election...
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Don't worry about argentina, our president has nothing of leftist... he just says he is... he speaks like one, but he does the oposite..
 
Burnsys said:
Don't worry about argentina, our president has nothing of leftist... he just says he is... he speaks like one, but he does the oposite..
What is your view on Chavez and Morales, Burnsys? Are they serious/genuine? I guess with Morales we will have to wait and see what happens. I have been following some of the developments in Venezuela but have not yet made up my mind about exactly what Chavez is all about... It's difficult to know from what one reads - I am sure you would have a better understanding of what is going on because you live in the region.
 
alexandra said:
What is your view on Chavez and Morales, Burnsys? Are they serious/genuine? I guess with Morales we will have to wait and see what happens. I have been following some of the developments in Venezuela but have not yet made up my mind about exactly what Chavez is all about... It's difficult to know from what one reads - I am sure you would have a better understanding of what is going on because you live in the region.

Well i would say that chavez is the most left leaning in the region (Not included castro, and the left Guerrillas in colombia) All other "Pseudo-Left" presidents came to power with a left, anti-us speech but once in power they showed they are just more puppets of us and european imperialism.. This is obvius when you hear their speches...
In the times of elections they talk against the imf, against foreing corporations, against the war. but once in power they start talking about bringing foreing investments. about deregularizing markets, about new deals with the imf.
they won the elections becouse people is tired of being manipulated by the us, they know what foreing corporations does and is tired of the imf.

This are kind of waves that affect all latin america's countrys at once, it is just a proff that our goverments are all central controled... in the 70' we had dictatorships, in the 80' transitions to democracy, in the 90' "integration to the world" and a "Free market policies" now in the 2000 we have all "Pseudo-Left" presidents.

i wonder what the next wave will be like...
 
Burnsys said:
Well i would say that chavez is the most left leaning in the region (Not included castro, and the left Guerrillas in colombia) All other "Pseudo-Left" presidents came to power with a left, anti-us speech but once in power they showed they are just more puppets of us and european imperialism.. This is obvius when you hear their speches...
In the times of elections they talk against the imf, against foreing corporations, against the war. but once in power they start talking about bringing foreing investments. about deregularizing markets, about new deals with the imf.
they won the elections becouse people is tired of being manipulated by the us, they know what foreing corporations does and is tired of the imf.
This are kind of waves that affect all latin america's countrys at once, it is just a proff that our goverments are all central controled... in the 70' we had dictatorships, in the 80' transitions to democracy, in the 90' "integration to the world" and a "Free market policies" now in the 2000 we have all "Pseudo-Left" presidents.
i wonder what the next wave will be like...
Thanks, Burnsys - I will continue to follow the politics in your region; very interesting stuff. People like Castro and Chavez give me hope:smile: Now all we need is ordinary people to rise en masse... It's going to happen :smile: :smile: :smile:
EDIT: And I'll do my bit, whatever that is at the time (at the moment, it seems to be discussion) :-)
 
Morales is not 'Anti-US'. Of course, he opposes U.S. policies on coca in Bolivia, but he is open to cooperation regarding drug-trafficking. He seems like a toned down version of Chavez.
 
klusener said:
Morales is not 'Anti-US'. Of course, he opposes U.S. policies on coca in Bolivia, but he is open to cooperation regarding drug-trafficking. He seems like a toned down version of Chavez.
Chavez isn't anti-US either - nor is Castro, for that matter. They are against the exploitation of their natural resources and their people by international capital, no matter which imperialist power is involved; they are really anti-imperialist rather than anti-US.

Chavez has gone to great lengths to assure the American people that he is not their enemy - for example, his recent offers to supply cheap fuel. If anyone is interested in watching a fairly accurate, unromanticised account of the Cuban revolution and getting an idea of what Castro stands for, get hold of the dvd 'Fidel and Che'. The plot of this movie on the whole matches historical accounts (eg. Jon Lee Anderson's 'Che Guevara') I have read.
 
Regardless of his policies, I just think it's awesome that an indigenous farmer that grew up in poverty can become president in Bolivia. When they say 'anyone can become president,' they actually mean it.
 
loseyourname said:
Regardless of his policies, I just think it's awesome that an indigenous farmer that grew up in poverty can become president in Bolivia. When they say 'anyone can become president,' they actually mean it.
Excellent point, loseyourname... and hopefully this very background will guide Morales in making decisions that are good for the ordinary people rather than for big business.
 
  • #10
loseyourname said:
Regardless of his policies, I just think it's awesome that an indigenous farmer that grew up in poverty can become president in Bolivia. When they say 'anyone can become president,' they actually mean it.
Krushchev was illiterate until he was 30.
 
  • #11
fourier jr said:
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1419749
venezuela, argentina, uruguay, brazil, ecuador, (maybe) mexico, & now bolivia... when is this going to happen in Canada?! obviously not in the upcoming january election...

Can you blame the people of Bolivia? I mean, Bec Tel has been raping their country for years and even made it illegal to collect rain water for drinking (Bec Tel owned the drinking water rights in the country).

We should be happy for Bolivia to have finally gotten the political will to take back their nation.
 
  • #12
Be careful all... The NSA is watching :-)
 
  • #13
So much for Morales, who is no "leftist" after all, it seems (sigh)...:
In the two weeks since his December 18 victory at the polls, Bolivia’s president-elect Evo Morales has combined verbal swipes at Washington and lightning visits to Cuba and Venezuela with solemn pledges at home to respect the private property of the transnational corporations and the Bolivian oligarchy.

More: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jan2006/boli-j04_prn.shtml
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #14
alexandra said:
So much for Morales, who is no "leftist" after all, it seems (sigh)...:

isn't that how all the SA leaders are like?
 
  • #15
Chavez isn't.
 
  • #16
News update on Morales

Well, here's a tick for Morales:

Bolivia leader halves his own pay

The Bolivian new left-wing President, Evo Morales, has cut his salary by more than a half to a little over $1,800 (£1,012) per month.

The decision means that the salaries of all Bolivian public sector employees will be reviewed, as no official can earn more than the president.

Mr Morales said the money saved would be used to increase the numbers of doctors and teachers.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4652940.stm
A saying from 'down under': "Good on you, mate!" :smile:
 
  • #17
Smurf said:
Krushchev was illiterate until he was 30.
And Bush was a cokehead moron ...hoooray ! We need more incompetents as world leaders !
 

Similar threads

News Bolivian Leader's Ouster Seen as Warning on U.S. Drug Policy
Replies
2
Views
2K
News What is the impact of Russia and China's growing influence in Latin America?
Replies
2
Views
5K
News Should the US intervene in world problems?
Replies
29
Views
10K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top