[lbo-talk] Evo Morales: MAS Is Ready to Rule

[Colin Brace]

I would love to see Bolivia elect a radical lefty like Evo (he came 
pretty damn close in 2002), but god forbid MAS should come to power too 
soon. Maybe he needs a few more years on the opposition bench to ripen 
his program & his organization...

-------- Original Message --------

Evo Morales: MAS Is Ready to rule Bolivia after 10th Anniversary

La Paz, Mar 28 (Prensa Latina) The Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) is 
ready to rule Bolivia after celebrating the 10th anniversary of its 
foundation, and has consolidated its position as the first political 
force in the country, MAS leader Evo Morales said Monday.

The Bolivian leader reiterated his call to govern the country, launched 
Sunday at a gathering of farmers celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 
founding of MAS, also know as the Political Instrument for the 
Sovereignty of the Peoples.

Evo Morales said that the problem is not winning the elections anymore 
but knowing how to rule the country. He added MAS has organized 
technical teams in the economic, social, judiciary and other sectors.

Morales, representing the Coca farmers in Congress, remarked that his 
organization is the first Bolivian political force because it won the 
district elections in December with 18 percent of votes, two points less 
than in the presidential elections in 2002, when the party was near the 
first place.

Progressive forces with similar interests to MAS won important victories 
in the Bolivian district elections in December and the traditional right 
wing parties were left behind, although analysts expect they are seeking 
to reorganize their lines by 2007 with ex President Jorge Quiroga as 
candidate.

Morales said the ideological principles of the organization, 
anti-imperialist and contrary to neoliberalism, are clear and firm but 
its members have yet to turn them into a programmatic reality. He 
reiterated the struggle of his party and popular organizations to 
achieve national unity, a constituent assembly to transform the country, 
and to develop a new hydrocarbon law which guarantees 50 percent of 
revenue to Bolivia.

Morales also called for the unity of Latin America, and praised the 
presence of representatives from Brazil, Cuba, Venezuela and France at 
MAS´s 10th anniversary.

From: 
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7B90EBE9EE-BA62-452D-9EEE-3A64CD0E2340%7D&language=EN