In The Midst Of Bolivian Politics…
Parlament in Sucre, “La Capital Plena”, Bolivia, South America
Presently there are daily demonstrations here in Sucre. Every single day there has been some kind of event on the main square, Plaza 25 de Mayo, mainly students or school groups participating. In the beginning of September students and police forces were fighting all night long on the main square …
But violent demonstrations seem be an absolute exception. What we have witnessed so far was actually something in between informative events and small carnivals parades, with students or young professionals in various costumes dancing in the street in a convoy. The costumes either relate to Bolivia’s culture -“Cholitas”, “Mineros”, “Campesinos” or political figures. Hugo Chavez is the main target of ridicule, because he is seen as the person who has been influencing Evo Morales policy-making a great deal and nobody is happy about that. Luckily Heidi had discussed this topic in great detail with her teacher, so we could understand the very ironic posters the students were waving.
These rather cheerful demonstrations are used by the government to discredit Sucre: check the government’s website on Bolivia, probably you will find Sucre as a place rather troubled / dangerous. Of course, these press releases are issued by the government in La Paz …
What gets people so excited is that of the nine provinces of Bolivia, six would like the new constitution to include the possibility for Sucre becoming the real capital or “La Capital Plena”. Sucre is indeed the constitutional capital city of Bolivia, whereas the government sits in La Paz, the biggest city in the country.
Presently a committee is working on overhauling the Bolivian Constitution, which of course is done in Sucre. Supporters of “Sucre Capital Plena” want to include the topic of Sucre being the real capital of Bolivia in this new constitution. Once the constitution is finished there will be a referendum on it. If such a paragraph would be included, a “Yes” for the constitution would mean a “Yes” for Sucre being the capital. Naturally the government under Evo Morales in La Paz does not want to hear any of this…
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