Bolivians endorse Morales' leftist constitution
LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivians approved a new constitution on Sunday to give the indigenous majority more political power and allow socialist President Evo Morales to run for re-election, exit polls and a quick count showed.
Morales is Bolivia's first Indian president and says the new constitution will improve the lives of impoverished indigenous groups and give the state tighter control over the economy.
He has taken cues from leftist presidents Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Rafael Correa of Ecuador, who have changed their countries' constitutions to extend their rule, tackle inequalities or exert greater control over natural resources.
The new constitution needed more than 50 percent approval to pass, and exit polls and a quick count showed it won between 55 percent and 60 percent.
Support was highest in the western highlands where Indians are a majority, while many mixed-race people in the fertile eastern lowlands rejected the charter. Four of Bolivia's nine provinces had a majority "no" vote, according to the exit polls.
After centuries of discrimination, Bolivia's Indians supported a constitution that they see as turning upside down the traditional power structures in a country long run by a European-descended and mix-raced elite.
Under the new constitution, indigenous groups will be given more representation in Congress, and will also have more power in the legal system.
In addition, Indian spiritual practices will be protected and indigenous communities will be allowed to sentence criminals using pre-Colombian traditions. Government officials in some cases will have to be able to speak an indigenous language.
Morales, an Aymara Indian who herded llamas as a boy, has boosted government revenues by nationalizing energy, mining and telephone companies since taking office three years ago.
Critics say Morales was using the constitution to grab more power as it allows him to run for a second consecutive term later this year.
(Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Kieran Murray)