LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivian President Evo Morales insists a broad autonomy declaration by the country’s largest and richest state is “illegal,” “anti-constitutional” and “dictatorial.”
And he warned Santa Cruz state leaders that using today’s referendum on the measure to justify withholding revenues that are due his central government “would be the worst mistake they could make.”
But Morales dismissed fears of violence and betrayed little concern over the vote — perhaps the biggest challenge to his 2-year-old presidency — during a half-hour interview with The Associated Press at the presidential palace Friday.
“Seems to me like they’ve brainwashed you guys when you ask me, ‘What’s going to happen?’ ” Morales teased a reporter.
“May 5,” he said, referring to the day after the vote, “will be just another day.”
But Morales also addressed the serious threat the referendum, which is expected to pass overwhelmingly, poses to his populist reforms. He urged Santa Cruz state to continue sharing its prosperity with the rest of South America’s poorest country.
“If they try not to send the money, it’s a clear demonstration that they’re breaking the law and (autonomy) is just a money grab,” he said. “They’re only in it for the money, not for the country. They’re only in it to help out a few businessmen, and not the people.”
Asked whether the government would use force to recover its money, Morales simply quoted advice he once received from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: “He told me, ‘Evo: patience, patience, patience.’ “
