Bolivian referendum gives the indigenous majority more political leverage

Bolivians vote on rights for indigenous population in referendum
Voters in Bolivia went to the polls Sunday to decide whether to change the country's constitution in a referendum that would give the indigenous majority more political leverage and allow socialist President Evo Morales to run for re-election.

Last Updated: 12:06AM GMT 26 Jan 2009
Mr Morales is likely to win the divisive referendum, based on polls before the vote, which showed that the Bolivian leader's new constitution had the backing of about 55 per cent of the population, with support highest in the western highlands where Indians are a majority, while many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands reject the charter.
The changes also include strengthening state control of the country's natural resources, and no longer recognising Catholicism as the official religion.
Mr Morales says the constitution is the cornerstone of his plan to tilt the balance of power in favour of Bolivia's indigenous people after centuries of discrimination.
Most Bolivians describe themselves as indigenous, but politics and business have long been dominated by a small elite with European roots. more