The second round of talks to resolve the current political crisis in Bolivia is now underway. After the first phase of discussions between the government and pro-autonomy prefects, which began on September 18, on October 10 it will be the turn of the Bolivian Congress to debate the text of the new constitution which President Evo Morales wants to put to a referendum. Parties will discuss issues that proved highly controversial in the first round of talks, such as the autonomy of Bolivia's departments and the tax on hydrocarbons.

More specifically, congress members will debate two referendums that the government has proposed, firstly on the new constitution, and secondly on plans to fix how extensive an area of unproductive land needs to be if it is to be expropriated by the state, according to newspaper El Colombiano.

To keep the negotiation process going, the Movement for Socialism, Morales's party, has in principle agreed to amend the new constitution in line with the wishes of other parties before the text is put to a public vote. The Bolivian President reminded the pro-autonomy prefects that "autonomy can only be granted by means of a new political constitution for the state, and not by the violent means that were used when public buildings were occupied."

Failed dialogue
Between September 18 and October 5, following a series of protests organized by supporters of autonomy for Bolivia's prosperous eastern regions, Evo Morales and representatives of the "half moon" departments - Tarija, Santa Cruz, Pando and Beni - met on a number of occasions in an effort to reach agreements on issues that have divided the country in recent months: autonomous status for Bolivia's departments, a new constitution protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, and central policies on energy resources.

The prefects were reluctant to sign an agreement since, in their opinion, no consensus had been reached, while the government said that "major" progress had been made on the issue of autonomy.

Further information:

• El Colombiano: Bolivia debatirá la ley de referendo constitucional
• ABI: Comienza diálogo político en Congreso en busca de acuerdos sobre nueva CPE
• El Diario: El MAS determina revisar texto de su proyecto de CPE
• La Razón: El Congreso abre el debate sobre la CPE oficialista
• ABI: Reivindican avances del diálogo y abren opciones inclusivas del acuerdo en CPE
• El Diario: El diálogo nacional finaliza sin acuerdo
• Nationalia: Bolivian Government and opposition parties begin talks to resolve current crisis