There is much critical focus on Bolivia as it has just inaugurated its first indigenous presidente. Evo Morales is indeed the first Aymara to run the country that is about 80 percent indigenous. He also represents the industry that employs and feeds that majority, the coca industry. But the election of Evo is more that just about democracy at work, more than just about the majority who have been treated as minority in terms of capital and power taking their place. The election of Evo Morales combined with the presidency of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and the election of Michelle Bachelet in Chile point to a growing move to the left in Latin America. But just because Evo Morales is one of the people doesn’t mean he has it easy, according to AlterNet:

Bolivia’s “right-wing movements, particularly those concentrated in Santa Cruz, Bolivia’s wealthiest province, where the energy and agricultural export businesses are based, may well encourage” a civil conflict with the Morales government if he doesn’t toe the line…His hands tied by corporate-designed “free-trade” deals and a load of debt, Evo Morales is caught between a rock and a very hard place.

Via / AlterNet