Changing political scenarios in Bolivia: from the general elections in 2014 to the sub-national elections and regional referendums in 2015

Abstract

The paper deals with the changes experienced in the Bolivian political scene during a very short time, due to the results of the general elections that took place in October 2014, the sub-national elections in March 2015 and the departmental referendums in the same year. In the first case, the unquestionable victory of the leader Evo Morales generated the feeling that the way to consolidate the hegemonic ruling party in Bolivia was paved to achieve the most important goal: the amendment of the State Constitution to legalize the indefinite reelection of Evo Morales, following the model that has been established among the ALBA countries. However, the electoral defeat in 2015 suffered by the ruling party MAS (Movimiento al Socialismo) reduces that possibility.