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Bolivia Autonomous Regions

Autonomous Regions Beni - Chuquisaca - Cochabamba - Gran Chaco - La Paz - Oruro - Pando - Potosí - Santa Cruz - Tarija -

Note: Since 18 Dec 2005 the 9 departments of Bolivia have directly elected their governors (prefects). On 15 Dec 2007, the eastern departments of Bolivia unilaterally declared themselves to be autonomous from the central government as 'autonomous regions.' Local referendums confirmed the declarations in May and Jun 2008. The unilateral autonomy movement and the subsequent referendums are not recognized by the federal government of Bolivia.
Elections in the 9 Regions (Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija) and Gran Chaco are scheduled to be held on 4 Apr 2010.

Party abbreviations: ACI = Alianza Comité Interinstitucional; APB = Autonomía Para Bolivia (Autonomoy For Bolivia); ER-CC = Encuentro Regional- Camino al Cambio (Regional Encounter - Way to Change); MAS = Movimiento al Socialism (Movement Towards Socialism, socialist); PODEMOS = Poder Democrático Social (Social and Democratic Power, 'We Can', center-right, formerly ADN); NFR = Nueva Fuerza Republicana (New Republican Force, centerist); Mil = Military

Beni

  Beni department, Bolivia

15 Dec 2007                 Beni Autonomous Region declared.
 1 Jun 2008                 Referendum votes endorses autonomy 81%; the vote
                              is not recognized by federal government.

Governor
2006 -                      Ernesto Suárez Sattori             (b. 1966)            PODEMOS

Chuquisaca

Chuquisaca department, Bolivia

Governor
2008 -                      Savina Cuéllar (f)                 (b. 1956)            ACI

Cochabamba

Cochabamba department, Bolivia

Governor
2006 -                      Manfred Reyes Villa                (b. 1954)            NFR

Gran Chaco

Gran Chaco province


La Paz

La Paz department, Bolivia

Governor
2006 -                      José Luís Paredes Muñoz            (b. 1956)            PODEMOS

Oruro

Oruro department, Bolivia

Governor
2008 -                      Alberto Luís Aguilar Calle         (b. 1960)            MAS

Pando
 
Pando department, Bolivia

15 Dec 2007                 Pando Autonomous Region declared.
 1 Jun 2008                 Referendum votes endorses autonomy 82%; the vote
                              is not recognized by federal government.
16 Sep 2008                 Pando placed under martial law by Bolivian government.


Governors
2006 - 16 Sep 2008          Leopoldo Fernández Ferreira        (b. 1952)            PODEMOS
                              (from 16 Sep 2008 under federal arrest)
20 Sep 2008 -               Landelino Rafael Bandeira Arze                          Mil
                              (interim)                   

Potosí

Potosí department, Bolivia

Governor
 2006 -                      Mario Virreira                     (b. 1949)            MAS

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz department, Bolivia
 
15 Dec 2007                 Santa Cruz Autonomous Region declared.
 4 May 2008                 Referendum votes endorses autonomy 82% to 15%;
                              the vote is not recognized by federal government.

Governor
 Feb 2006 -                  Rubén Costas Aguilera              (b. 1955)            APB

Tarija
 
Tarija department, Bolivia

15 Dec 2007                 Tarija Autonomous Region declared.
22 Jun 2008                 Referendum votes endorses autonomy 79%; the vote
                              is not recognized by federal government.

Governor
20 Jan 2006 -               Mario Cossío Cortez                (b. 1960)            ER-CC





©2007  Ben Cahoon