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Bolivia assembly approves charter | Bolivia assembly approves charter |
(10 minutes later) | |
A special Bolivian constituent assembly has approved a new draft constitution, despite a boycott by the main opposition party. | |
Bolivians will now have a chance to vote on the changes in a national referendum next year. | |
The 164 deputies present, out of the total of 255, took 13 hours to vote on each article of the new constitution. | |
The new charter would give more autonomy to indigenous people and allow consecutive presidential terms. | |
Capital argument | Capital argument |
The draft constitution has proved contentious in Bolivia, with strikes and protests against it. | The draft constitution has proved contentious in Bolivia, with strikes and protests against it. |
At least three people were killed in the run up to the vote in clashes between protesters and police in the central city of Sucre. | At least three people were killed in the run up to the vote in clashes between protesters and police in the central city of Sucre. |
Residents of that town were angered at the absence from the constituent assembly's agenda of proposals to make Sucre the sole capital of the country, which it was before 1899. | Residents of that town were angered at the absence from the constituent assembly's agenda of proposals to make Sucre the sole capital of the country, which it was before 1899. |
Currently, the judiciary rests at Sucre while the legislative and executive branches of government remain at La Paz in the west. | Currently, the judiciary rests at Sucre while the legislative and executive branches of government remain at La Paz in the west. |
The argument highlights the division between opponents of President Evo Morales, based in the richer east and his supporters in the poorer mountainous west of Bolivia. | The argument highlights the division between opponents of President Evo Morales, based in the richer east and his supporters in the poorer mountainous west of Bolivia. |
Mr Morales proposed on Wednesday that he step down if "No" votes in the upcoming referendum exceed the vote which elected him in December 2005 - 54%. | Mr Morales proposed on Wednesday that he step down if "No" votes in the upcoming referendum exceed the vote which elected him in December 2005 - 54%. |
Mr Morales - Bolivia's first indigenous president - says the reforms would give greater political representation to marginalised and indigenous groups - who make up 62% of the population. | Mr Morales - Bolivia's first indigenous president - says the reforms would give greater political representation to marginalised and indigenous groups - who make up 62% of the population. |
But the opposition have criticised the plans for allowing the president to seek re-election indefinitely. | But the opposition have criticised the plans for allowing the president to seek re-election indefinitely. |
Strikes to protest against the reform plans were held in six of Bolivia's nine provinces last month, attracting the strongest support in the gas-rich province of Santa Cruz - an opposition stronghold. | Strikes to protest against the reform plans were held in six of Bolivia's nine provinces last month, attracting the strongest support in the gas-rich province of Santa Cruz - an opposition stronghold. |