Bolivia's New President - Under Reported News

This Sunday's New York Times carried an article on Bolivia's new President. We applaud the article, despite some unnecessary overtones critical of the US, because it calls attention to this significant development. We previously saw the Presidency was up for grabs (thanks Economist), this past fall. But it seems that the victory of the Populist (Marxist?) Evo Morales, went underreported in most main stream news sources. None of the talking heads on Fox, et al. Seem to be talking about this election (of course Iranian Nukes and Iraqi Hostages maybe hogging the airtime).

Here's what were finding:

Reuters Reported:

LA PAZ, Bolivia (Reuters) - Leftist coca grower leader Evo Morales was sworn in on Sunday as the first indigenous president of Bolivia with high expectations of a better life for the poor majority in one of Latin America's most volatile countries.

The latest in a string of leftists to sweep to power in the region in a backlash against U.S.-backed free-market policies, Morales won 54 percent of the vote on December 18, the biggest landslide since the return to democracy in 1982.

An Aymara Indian who herded llamas as a boy, Morales cried as he donned the presidential sash and medal over his black wool jacket embroidered with traditional coloured stripes while an unprecedented 12 heads of state looked on.

"The 500 years of Indian resistance have not been in vain," Morales said in his inaugural speech. "From 500 years of resistance we pass to another 500 years in power."

The Financial Times says:

Bolivia's president sworn in
By Hal Weitzman in La Paz Published: January 23 2006 02:00 Last updated: January 23 2006 02:00
Evo Morales was sworn in yesterday as Bolivia's first indigenous president in an historic and emotional ceremony that set the tone for his new government.

In a long speech, Mr Morales warned the US not to try to dominate in the region, promised to slash parliamentary salaries and stamp out corruption and reaffirmed his commitment to nationalizing Bolivia's hydrocarbons sector. He also pledged to change the nation's economic model.

"We have to end neoliberalism," he said.

As he took the oath of office, the radical former coca-growers' leader placed one hand on his heart and raised the other in a fist of defiance. He later broke down in tears.

Amongst other things, Morales has indicated he will depenalize coca growing, which is a blow to the US drug policy in Latin America. Further, energy distribution in Latin America may also be upset, as Bolivia is second only to Venezuala in natural gas reserves.

While we applaud Democracy, we hope Bolivia's new President will respect open markets, and avoid carrying out some of his stronger campaign rhetoric, including claims he would nationalize energy concerns and the like.

Keep your eyes peeled, we think this new Presidency will be "discovered" by Television news, when something radical results, which seems inevitable.

Praxis anyone?