*Chile’s government has reacted angrily to a proposal by Bolivian presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Paz to legalise the status of stolen vehicles that have been smuggled into Bolivia, known as ‘chutos’ - many of which originate from Chile. Paz, of the centre-right Partido Demócrata Cristiano (PDC) and the surprise winner of the election’s 17 August first round, said on 30 June that “it seems to be a sin to own a ‘chuto’ car in Bolivia, when everybody has one…we’re going to legalise them, because failing to do so would be a serious mistake”. Paz added that the widespread ownership of ‘chutos’ owes to a combination of poverty and Bolivian tariffs on foreign cars, saying that if he is elected and delivers his goal of “capitalism for everybody…in two or three years people will get rid of their ‘chuto’, sell it for scrap, and be able to buy a new car”. Chile’s Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde yesterday told local radio station Tele13 Radio that “for goods that are obtained illegally…establishing a form of legalisation is an incentive for those crimes to continue being committed”.
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