La Paz, Bolivia
Bolivia’s president, Carlos Mesa, submitted his resignation to Congress this week, saying that a rash of protests had made it impossible for him to lead. “They roll up some sticks of dynamite and insist that you do anything they say,” Mesa said. “I won’t go down that road any longer.” The announcement came as demonstrators, demanding higher taxes on foreign energy companies, threatened to shut down the country’s oil fields. Mesa’s predecessor, Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, was forced into exile, in 2003. Leaders of Bolivia’s Indian majority said both presidents had sold out the country to foreign investors. Lawmakers still must decide whether to accept Mesa’s resignation.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Brazil has a scorpion problemUnder The Radar Venomous arachnids are infesting country's fast-growing cities
-
Why Rikers Island will no longer be under New York City's controlThe Explainer A 'remediation manager' has been appointed to run the infamous jail
-
California may pull health care from eligible undocumented migrantsIN THE SPOTLIGHT After pushing for universal health care for all Californians regardless of immigration status, Gov. Gavin Newsom's latest budget proposal backs away from a key campaign promise
