Filed under: Morales, deepens, economy | Tags: Bolivia, control, deepens, economy, Morales
By Carlos Quiroga
LA PAZ (Reuters) – Bolivia’s President Evo Morales deepened state control of the economy on Thursday, the second anniversary of his energy nationalization and days before an opposition-led autonomy vote that challenges his leftist reforms.
Morales announced the government takeover of Italian-owned Entel, the country’s biggest telephone company, and of four energy companies.
Police occupied Entel’s headquarters in an echo of the May 1, 2006 energy nationalization when Morales sent security forces to Bolivia’s oil fields.
The new announcements came as residents of the populous and wealthy farming region of Santa Cruz prepare to vote on Sunday in an autonomy referendum that is expected to pass and that is seen as a repudiation of Morales’ initiatives. (more…)
