Journalist, Lawyer, and a patriotic activist.
15 November 2021
How are we and where are we heading?
In the political sphere, the Bolivian population finds itself on opposite positions, between an ethnocentric socialist approach, which seeks to reach radicalism to sustain a political instrument arguing the sovereignty of the peoples as if they were subjugated or subjected while in the exercise of power.
The other position defends an autonomous progressive thought with connotations contrary to those of socialist thought, in which it perceives that it violates their rights and, therefore, violates the Constitution, because it endangers their work, their undertakings, and their patrimony, among other things, but fundamentally, they feel that the education of their children takes place in a framework of absorbent statism that undermines their will to choose and to function.
As regards the Electoral issue. In the October 2020 elections, the governing party obtained 55% of the citizen vote (percentage, currently questioned by Rosario Baptista, a Tribunal member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and several different actors) and the opposition obtained 45%.
As a conclusion, it should be mentioned that the MAS cannot govern as if it had obtained 100% of the votes and pretend that there is no counterweight of minorities; and [they should understand that] that 45% is far from being an absent minority.
From the point of view of Baptista (Member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal), there is a serious questioning about the actions of some members of this Court that, with the knowledge of Salvador Romero, who in the past administration served as President of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, could be that this 55% in favor of the governing party be challenged again due to irregularities that could soon come to light, which would constitute a second fraud. Therefore, it is essential that a forensic audit be carried out on the electoral register.
As regards the Economic sphere. Beyond the figures cited in an inconsiderate, bellicose, confrontational, and ethnocentric speech in which President Arce accused 45% of the population (possibly this percentage being higher) of being coup-mongers; obviously there is uncertainty in regards precise data of the economic situation, information such as the Net International Reserves, the monetary issue, the Bolivian Fiscal Oil Fields (YPFB) budget execution, and the budget execution of the rest of State companies.
The National Statistics Institute is currently a politicized institution, whose data do not coincide with the analysis of other economists (such as, for example, with that of Dr. Gonzalo Chávez and his prediction of 1.36% annual GDP growth) and the Government figures of around 4% growth for the current year.
Therefore, the economic data is very uncertain, and proposed bill 342 on the Economic and Social Development Plan 2021-2025, intends that the reactivation processes go through the embargo of resources from governorships, city halls, universities, and autarkic institutions so that they survive with the minimum [budget]. To date, there is no report on the profitability of the State companies (Cartonbol, Evabol, Lacteosbol, San Buenaventura [Sugar Mill], Urea Plant, etc.).
In regards Health and Education. Relying on a health event that is conducted by way of necessity in the case of Covid 19, without taking into account the efforts of the governorships, city halls, and other health institutions, says absolutely nothing. There is no information on patients with other pathologies (kidney pathologies, cancer, Acute Respiratory Infections, Acute Diarrheal Diseases, birth rates, morbidity, and other endemic pathologies such as Chagas, AIDS, etc.). Of course, we have data on the vaccines that were discarded due to an uncoordinated vaccination plan by the central and regional governments.
In the area of education, the results of the teaching/learning processes, especially of previous years, will become evident when students go on to high school or face an option for higher education. This also shows that former Minister of Education, Adrian Quelca, resigned due to acts of corruption.
Opportunities for young people. With regard to this important age group, the figures on the development of educational, professional, technical, or learning competence are not known. Data on whether young people are satisfied with their work, with their daily lives, their goals, their hopes, their future projects, and, even less, with regard to their expectations about the future of the country, is unknown.
Popular demand. It is no coincidence that the Bolivian population is organizing against the package of laws that the MAS Government intends to enact, without first promoting a consensus process, as it should be in a democratic government.
What is the solution to the current conflict? The crisis situation that the country is going through, as a result of the rejection of part of the population to the enactment of the package of laws that the Government of Luis Arce intends, requires a solution. First, the population wants Bolivia to have stability and that happens through politics in current times. Second, if the MAS Government is sure of its 55% vote, it must exercise its ability to convince the population from two-thirds of the vote in the Plurinational Assembly, restoring the equilibrium of checks and balances mandated by the State Political Constitution. On the other hand, it must institutionalize the judicial system and carry out an audit of the electoral register and of the servers used to count the votes. Finally, it is necessary to sit down with Bolivians to discuss a new State-Government administration model, since the current one neither manages to bring the population closer together nor meets their basic needs.
The solution to the current problems is in the hands of the Government, which must consider the abrogation of laws 1386 and 342 and others, and get to work.
Work on what? Govern with equity, equality, and respect for free expression.
The Government must make amends for its mistakes and must gentlemanly acknowledge its mistakes, in this way it will be recognized as a democratic Government that emerged from the popular vote. Otherwise, it will be remembered as the new Nicolás Maduro, Hugo Chávez’s successor.
Source: https://eldeber.com.bo/opinion/como-estamos-y-adonde-vamos_254952
