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Enero 18, 2005
Nothing is for Free
The emergence of the “bancada patriótica” may prove to be something to pacify the country. It’s almost miraculous how long Carlos Mesa has been able to remain in power without the backing of any political party. Even though members of this coalition include part of the opposition (MAS) and some relatively sympathetic parties (MBL), the lawmakers reiterated that they won’t be Mesa’s pushovers. They still pretty much agree that the raise in fuel prices was not a smart move.
Usually when coalitions are being assembled, in the case of the Presidential and Municipal elections, pegas are distributed. These government jobs include cabinet positions or departmental prefectures. Evo Morales, who has criticized members of his party for joining this group, has speculated that the members of MAS are angling for the Prefecture of Cochabamba and if there is a turnover in Mesa’s cabinet, then they would have a say in their replacements.
Even the two mayors of La Paz and El Alto have publicly supported Mesa. However, some say that they, too, are looking for their political party (MSM) and citizen's group (PP) to gain access to this Administration.
Mesa should take that offer and run. It’s a small price to pay to gain some allies. By bringing MAS and some of its key moderate members into the governing coalition, it would bring some popular legitimacy to his Administration.
Posted by eduardo at Enero 18, 2005 12:41 PM
Comments
As we have seen before, it is of no value to have Evo on your side. He will quickly turn against you as he sees his opportunity arise.
Posted by: MB at Enero 18, 2005 03:50 PM
I honestly feel that the legitimate grievances held by the poor and excluded get overlooked, because the focus is ALWAYS on Evo and his personality. Yes, part of the success of MAS has been due to his personality and polarizing nature, but in the long run it does more harm than good, in my opinion.
Posted by: eduardo at Enero 18, 2005 04:02 PM
I don't think Mesa should go for pegas, but he most likely will. There's a fine line, of course, between "pegas" and simple "coalition-building". European parliamentary systems are constantly engaged in renegotiating cabinet & other posts w/in coalition agreements. It's a normal part of distributing political power. Up to a point, then it becomes mere clientelism.
What Mesa needs to do is gather a group of people like Juan Sin Miedo, or even Percy Fernandez, and put together a new centrist coalition -- not a government coalition, necessarily -- but a CENTRIST coalition that's willing to face off against the right & the left, to avoid a potential democratic breakdown.
Posted by: Miguel Centellas at Enero 18, 2005 05:21 PM
But I really think the mindset of anyone who wants to be in a coalition is "what can I get out of this?"
Posted by: eduardo at Enero 18, 2005 08:58 PM
To me, that's just Bolivian nature. If I help you, what will I get in return.
Let's face it, no one, even Bolivians, will do anything for free. That would border on the naive.
I agree with Miguel C., a centrist coalition would be a smart thing to do, one that appeals to the supporters of those "movements". One that can brake through that thick layer of control organizations like FEJUVE and the Asamblea de la Crucenidad have on the rural population.
Posted by: MB at Enero 19, 2005 09:06 AM