Carlos Mesa
Encyclopedia
Carlos Diego Mesa Gisbert (born August 12, 1953) is a Bolivia
n politician, historian and President of
Bolivia
from October 17, 2003 until his resignation on June 6, 2005.
Mesa was a popular television journalist and personality, known by many for his rectitude and impartiality but loathed by many others for alleged political opportunism. His widespread name recognition prompted the MNR candidate Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada
to pick him as his running mate in the 2002 Bolivian presidential elections. The winning ticket of Sánchez-Mesa took possession on August 6, 2002. As Vice-President, the apolitical Mesa was quickly caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, as a wave of protests and strikes
shut down Bolivia in a bitter dispute known as the Bolivian Gas War
. The demonstrations eventually forced Sánchez de Lozada to resign and flee the country, leaving Mesa as President of the Republic.
reserves, estimated to be worth billions of dollars (USD). His alliance with Evo Morales gave him no results, even after accepting a Chavista type Constituyente.
After a resurgence of Gas protests in 2005, in a political move he attempted to resign in January 2005, but his offer was refused by Congress. On March 22, 2005, after weeks of new street protests from organizations accusing Mesa of bowing to U.S.
corporate interests, Mesa again offered his resignation to Congress, and it was accepted on June 10 under the pressure of road blockades and general social unrest. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Eduardo Rodríguez
, was sworn as interim president to succeed the outgoing Carlos Mesa.
Carlos Mesa had been Vice-President to President Sanchez de Lozada since August 6, 2002. In that capacity, he was also the head of the Bolivian Congress.
As noted, Mesa was, prior to entering the political arena, a historian and journalist in radio
, television
and newspaper
s. He is a member of the Bolivian History Academy, and co-wrote (along with his parents, themselves noted scholars and professionals) an interesting and relatively exhaustive compendium of Bolivian history from the coming of the Spaniards to the close of the millennium.
Despite his lack of experience in the political arena, Mesa's star rose quickly in the Sánchez de Lozada administration. In September 2003, he was invited to address the UN General Assembly, where he warned:
As the gas conflict escalated, Mesa became increasingly unhappy with the government's heavy-handed suppression of the protests, which left over 50 people dead. He did not resign, but he did withdraw his support for Sánchez de Lozada five days before the latter's resignation, saying: "I cannot continue to support the situation we are living through." Some speculated that Mesa had personal reasons to adopt this posture, as it opened the way to his succeeding Sánchez de Lozada as president. However, it also placed him at the center of extreme political pressures – from both internal Bolivian and external foreign interests – regarding the use of Bolivia's natural gas reserves. Bolivia's next presidential elections were scheduled for 2007, but Mesa was quick to point out that his administration was transitional and that he did not intend to complete Sánchez de Lozada's term in office.
Mesa eventually changed his mind and decided to try to finish his constitutional term. Results; the referendum posed what were widely perceived to be vague and overly complicated questions. (See: Bolivian gas referendum, 2004
.) In addition, in March 2004 he announced that his government would hold a series of rallies around the country, and at its embassies abroad, demanding that Chile
return to Bolivia a stretch of seacoast that the country lost in 1884 after the end of the War of the Pacific
. Chile has traditionally refused to negotiate on the issue, but Mesa nonetheless made this policy a central point of his administration in order to gain popular support.
Following protests, he tendered his resignation to Congress on March 22, 2005; however, the legislators voted almost unanimously the next day to reject his offer. Still, domestic tensions between the poor and rural eastern highlands and the wealthier cities and oil-rich south continued to rise. Weeks of escalating street demonstrations and widening disorder reached a peak in June 2005, as tens of thousands of protesters marched into La Paz
. Aware of his growing incapacity to control or influence events without resorting to violence, Mesa once more tendered his resignation to Congress. This time, Congress accepted his offer. The presidents of the two national legislative chambers at that point abdicated their constitutional powers in favor of the chief justice of the Supreme Court and new president of Bolivia, Eduardo Rodríguez
. He was charged with the duty of swiftly organizing national elections, which led to the massive victory of MAS candidate Evo Morales
in December 2005.
From the accession of Evo Morales, rumors began to abound about serious efforts being made to bring Carlos Mesa to trial for a number of alleged misdeeds, including responsibility for the deaths of protesters, both under his administration and that of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (with whom he served as Vice-President); for economic mismanagement and corruption; and even for having mulled a "self-coup" in order to temporarily suspend constitutional rights and bring order to the country with the help of the military.
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n politician, historian and President of
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
from October 17, 2003 until his resignation on June 6, 2005.
Mesa was a popular television journalist and personality, known by many for his rectitude and impartiality but loathed by many others for alleged political opportunism. His widespread name recognition prompted the MNR candidate Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada
Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada
Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada y Sánchez de Bustamante , familiarly known as "Goni", is a Bolivian politician, businessman, and former President of Bolivia. A lifelong member of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario , he is credited for using "shock therapy", the economic theory championed by then...
to pick him as his running mate in the 2002 Bolivian presidential elections. The winning ticket of Sánchez-Mesa took possession on August 6, 2002. As Vice-President, the apolitical Mesa was quickly caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, as a wave of protests and strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
shut down Bolivia in a bitter dispute known as the Bolivian Gas War
Bolivian Gas War
The Bolivian gas conflict was a social confrontation in Bolivia centering on the exploitation of the country's vast natural gas reserves. The expression can be extended to refer to the general conflict in Bolivia over the exploitation of gas resources, thus including the 2005 protests and the...
. The demonstrations eventually forced Sánchez de Lozada to resign and flee the country, leaving Mesa as President of the Republic.
Presidency
In the short year and a half after assuming office, Mesa found himself also under extreme internal and external political pressures over the use of Bolivia's 1.5 trillion cubic meters of natural gasNatural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
reserves, estimated to be worth billions of dollars (USD). His alliance with Evo Morales gave him no results, even after accepting a Chavista type Constituyente.
After a resurgence of Gas protests in 2005, in a political move he attempted to resign in January 2005, but his offer was refused by Congress. On March 22, 2005, after weeks of new street protests from organizations accusing Mesa of bowing to U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
corporate interests, Mesa again offered his resignation to Congress, and it was accepted on June 10 under the pressure of road blockades and general social unrest. The chief justice of the Supreme Court, Eduardo Rodríguez
Eduardo Rodríguez
Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé is a former president of Bolivia; prior to that appointment he was the chief justice of the Supreme Court.-Background:...
, was sworn as interim president to succeed the outgoing Carlos Mesa.
Carlos Mesa had been Vice-President to President Sanchez de Lozada since August 6, 2002. In that capacity, he was also the head of the Bolivian Congress.
As noted, Mesa was, prior to entering the political arena, a historian and journalist in radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. He is a member of the Bolivian History Academy, and co-wrote (along with his parents, themselves noted scholars and professionals) an interesting and relatively exhaustive compendium of Bolivian history from the coming of the Spaniards to the close of the millennium.
Despite his lack of experience in the political arena, Mesa's star rose quickly in the Sánchez de Lozada administration. In September 2003, he was invited to address the UN General Assembly, where he warned:
Democracy is in danger in Bolivia as the result of legitimate pressures from the poor. We cannot generate economic growth and well-being for a few and then expect that the large majorities that are excluded will watch silently and patiently. We poor countries demand that our products be admitted into the markets of rich countries in adequate conditions. http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031017/API/310171127&cachetime=5
As the gas conflict escalated, Mesa became increasingly unhappy with the government's heavy-handed suppression of the protests, which left over 50 people dead. He did not resign, but he did withdraw his support for Sánchez de Lozada five days before the latter's resignation, saying: "I cannot continue to support the situation we are living through." Some speculated that Mesa had personal reasons to adopt this posture, as it opened the way to his succeeding Sánchez de Lozada as president. However, it also placed him at the center of extreme political pressures – from both internal Bolivian and external foreign interests – regarding the use of Bolivia's natural gas reserves. Bolivia's next presidential elections were scheduled for 2007, but Mesa was quick to point out that his administration was transitional and that he did not intend to complete Sánchez de Lozada's term in office.
Mesa eventually changed his mind and decided to try to finish his constitutional term. Results; the referendum posed what were widely perceived to be vague and overly complicated questions. (See: Bolivian gas referendum, 2004
Bolivian gas referendum, 2004
Bolivia held a referendum on the future of its natural gas reserves on Sunday, 18 July 2004. The referendum was one of the first promises made by President Carlos Mesa upon assuming the presidency in the aftermath of the Bolivian Gas War of October 2003 that saw his predecessor, Gonzalo Sánchez de...
.) In addition, in March 2004 he announced that his government would hold a series of rallies around the country, and at its embassies abroad, demanding that Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
return to Bolivia a stretch of seacoast that the country lost in 1884 after the end of the War of the Pacific
War of the Pacific
The War of the Pacific took place in western South America from 1879 through 1883. Chile fought against Bolivia and Peru. Despite cooperation among the three nations in the war against Spain, disputes soon arose over the mineral-rich Peruvian provinces of Tarapaca, Tacna, and Arica, and the...
. Chile has traditionally refused to negotiate on the issue, but Mesa nonetheless made this policy a central point of his administration in order to gain popular support.
Following protests, he tendered his resignation to Congress on March 22, 2005; however, the legislators voted almost unanimously the next day to reject his offer. Still, domestic tensions between the poor and rural eastern highlands and the wealthier cities and oil-rich south continued to rise. Weeks of escalating street demonstrations and widening disorder reached a peak in June 2005, as tens of thousands of protesters marched into La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
. Aware of his growing incapacity to control or influence events without resorting to violence, Mesa once more tendered his resignation to Congress. This time, Congress accepted his offer. The presidents of the two national legislative chambers at that point abdicated their constitutional powers in favor of the chief justice of the Supreme Court and new president of Bolivia, Eduardo Rodríguez
Eduardo Rodríguez
Eduardo Rodríguez Veltzé is a former president of Bolivia; prior to that appointment he was the chief justice of the Supreme Court.-Background:...
. He was charged with the duty of swiftly organizing national elections, which led to the massive victory of MAS candidate Evo Morales
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...
in December 2005.
From the accession of Evo Morales, rumors began to abound about serious efforts being made to bring Carlos Mesa to trial for a number of alleged misdeeds, including responsibility for the deaths of protesters, both under his administration and that of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada (with whom he served as Vice-President); for economic mismanagement and corruption; and even for having mulled a "self-coup" in order to temporarily suspend constitutional rights and bring order to the country with the help of the military.
Works
- Cine boliviano, del realizador al crítico (co-author, 1979)
- El cine boliviano según Luis Espinal (1982)
- Presidentes de Bolivia: entre urnas y fusiles (1983)
- Manual de historia de Bolivia (co-author, 1983)
- La aventura del cine boliviano 1952-1985 (1985)
- Un debate entre gitanos (1991)
- De cerca, una década de conversaciones en democracia (1993)
- La epopeya del fútbol boliviano (1994)
- Territorios de libertad (1995)
- Historia de Bolivia (co-author, 1997)
- El vano de la vida incansable (co-author, 1999)
- La espada en la palabra (2000)
- El Vicepresidente ¿la sombra del poder? (co-author, 2003)
- Presidencia sitiada: memorias de mi gobierno (2008)
- Un gobierno de ciudadanos (editor, 2008)
- Many documentaries made for television, including the series "Bolivia Siglo XX", a contemporary history of Bolivia consisting of 36 documentaries, each about an hour long, made in conjunction with Mario Espinoza and produced by Ximena Valdivia.
External links
- Official web site of the president of Bolivia
- Bolivian president plans resignation, CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, 6 June 2005 - Spectre of Civil War for Bolivia – Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
- Bolivia on a Tight Rope – DissidentVoice.org (background information)
- The Carlos Mesa's referendum, 2004 (video, Spanish)
See also
- List of presidents of Bolivia
- History of BoliviaHistory of BoliviaThis is the history of Bolivia. See also the history of Latin America and the history of the Americas.Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America...
- Politics of BoliviaPolitics of BoliviaThe politics of Bolivia takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the president is head of state, head of government and head of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the...