Evo Morales approves recall referenda on 10 August.

Caracas, Venezuela, 12 May 2008. Today, Bolivian President Evo Morales approved a law that approves for a recall referendum on 10 August 2008. This electoral consultation would allow Bolivians to decide the political destiny of their President, Vice-President and nine Prefects (governors) in referenda. The law calling for the recall referendum was initially suggested by President Evo Morales last December as a way out of political differences over the Constitutional Assembly. However, the opposition-dominated Senate did not approve it then. It only agreed to do it now as a way to undermine the tenure of Morales right after the Santa Cruz "referendum". But this political move could backfire the Bolivian opposition just like it did their Venezuelan counterpart. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez confronted a recall referendum and won it handsomely. As a result, the opposition was diminished in its political ambitions.  Now, Bolivian oppositon would need to obtain 1.544.374 votes (54%) to cut short the first Presidentianl term of Evo Morales which is due to end by January 2011.

President Morales is expected to meet with the nine prefects today at the government palace. More news to come.

Sources: ABI, VTV, Globovision, El Mundo, BBC Mundo, Aljazeera, Telesur, CSMonitor,

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