LatinNews Daily - 7 August 2024

*Bolivia’s President Luis Arce has announced plans to hold a referendum asking voters whether fuel subsidies should be continued and to establish concrete rules on presidential re-election. He also said that voters would be asked about the distribution of seats in congress. Fuel subsidies, which according to the state news agency ABI have cost the government B$9.8bn (US$1.4bn) this year, have long been a key strain on Bolivia’s public finances but attempts to reduce them have been fiercely contested – a previous attempt to slash subsidies in 2010 was reversed following major protests. Arce said that the referendum would also clear up the issue of presidential re-election. Whilst the constitution limits presidents to two terms in office, the constitutional court (TCP) ruled in 2017 that this limit amounts to a human rights violation. The TCP then reversed this ruling in December last year, reimposing the two-term limit. The issue is hugely significant ahead of next year’s presidential election, in which former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) is challenging Arce for the candidacy of the ruling left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) despite currently being barred due to the term limits. The referendum is due to be held in January 2025 alongside long overdue judicial elections.