Bolivia; the plot thickens

In a new twist in the ongoing power struggle between the Bolivian government and the country's richest provinces, Evo Morales has said he will sue five of the prefects for not abiding by the recall referendum. The five regional leaders have declared they won't be participating in the August 10 nationwide ballot.

On that day, all 9 prefects as well as Morales and his vice-president Alvaro García Linera are supposed to submit themselves to the popular vote via referendum, making it only the fifth referendum to be held this year.

On Sunday the gas-rich region of Tarija voted in favour of more autonomy in another ad hoc ballot, becoming the fourth region to do so in the past two months. Strengthened by this semblance of popular support, five prefects have now decided not to participate in the recall referendum and are instead calling for general elections. The one-term rule means that Morales would no longer be able to stand.

The beautiful irony of the whole thing is that the recall referendum, although originally dreamed up by the Morales camp, was actually passed in the senate by the opposition parties. It was they who thought it would be the ideal stick with which to beat the president. Now their allies in the provinces are having nothing to do with it, leaving the Podemos senators looking like fools.

Does any of this get Bolivia any closer to home? You tell me.

Photo: Voting in Tarija. www.Infobae.com.