VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
The Plurinational State of Bolivia is located in central South America. It has an area of 1.1 million square kilometres and a population of 8.9 million. The official capital is Sucre (population: 220,000), and the seat of government is La Paz (population: 1,680,000). Bolivia's official languages are Spanish, Quechua and Aymara, and its national holiday is August 6, the country's Independence Day (1825).
Bolivia is a unitary republic. The president and the government he appoints hold executive power. According to the nation's Constitution, the president is both the head of state and head of government. The current president, Juan Evo Morales Ayma, was inaugurated on January 22, 2006 and leads the radical leftist Movement for Socialism. The current Vice President is Alvaro Garcia Linera.
After gaining power, the Movement for Socialism decided to completely renounce the neo-liberal model of socio-economic development and to restructure the government, amend the Constitution, reform public institutions and nationalise oil and gas resources.
The Asamblea Plurinacional (National Congress) has two chambers, namely, the lower Chamber of Deputies and the upper Chamber of Senators. The Movement for Socialism, Democratic and Social Power, the National Unity Front and the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement are the leading political parties.
The new Constitution was passed on January 25, 2009. On December 6, 2009, Morales was re-elected to a second term as President, winning 62.3% of the vote.
Bolivia is one of the least developed Latin American states. The internal situation in the country came close to collapse in 2008 and 2009, which had a negative effect on Bolivia's economic development. Domestic investment virtually disappeared, while foreign investment also dwindled considerably. The Bolivian economy relies heavily on illicit drug trafficking. Most local farmers grow coca as their only means of subsistence.
La Paz is critical of Washington's Latin American policy and has worked to strengthen ties to Caracas and Havana. Bolivia also calls for an end to the economic blockade on Cuba.
Bolivia's leaderships also seeks to increase regional integration. Bolivia is a member of the Andean Community, the Union of South American Nations, the Rio Group and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) and is an associated member of the Mercosur Regional Trade Agreement.
