Mesa Resigned
The siege of La Paz was unbearable, and the Congress will have to define the succession.
(Foto: Asociated Press)
After nearly 15 days of manifestation, marches and blockades in the whole of the country, on Monday the 6th of June the president presented his resignation for the second time. The measure was agreed upon during the weekend because the Church met with representatives form the three powers of the Bolivian state in order to seek a negotiated way out of the crisis.
In this way a halt to the advance of the social movements who have paralysed the country is attempted. None of this happened. In addition to more blockades, some indigenous groups took over seven petrol plants in the Orient of Bolivia.
In an open Cabildo that took place midday of June the 6th, that congregated neighbourhood organisations, trade unions, and peasants in the square San Francisco, half a million people decided to appoint the creation of a government of the people through the Constituent Assembly.
Mesa's resignation, will, as a first consequence, delay the execution of the Constituent Assembly, since the Congress will have to define the presidential succession.
The Congress will have the opportunity to make viable a solution, since the failure of the representatives from the MNR, MIR, ADN and NFR, who opposed the prioritisation of the Constituent Assembly, and opted for the approval of the Referendum on autonomies proposed by the Pro Santa Cruz Civic Committee was evident.
While this was taking place the bread, meat and food reserves were depleting, as well as the lack of fuel producing an almost total paralysis of the city.
The pressure measures tend to radicalise and go beyond the direction of the leaders of the COR and the Fejuve of El Alto.
The absence of water followed that of fuel and food.
La Paz looks like a city besieged by war, there are no services, there is destruction and the solutions seem very distant.
Farewell Speech
On national television, and managing the speech as in his best moments as a journalist, Mesa congratulated the Armed Forces and the National Police and wished the Church the best in their role as mediators.
He explained he didn't want to be an obstacle in decision making and asked appealed to the radical movements for serenity.
He made clear his will to stay in Bolivia and not escape to either Miami or Washington and considered that during his term there was no blood.