WASHINGTON –Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, was joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) in introducing a bipartisan resolution supporting democratic principles and standards in Bolivia and throughout Latin America. The resolution recognizes the important transitions to democracy and the regular peaceful transfers of power through elections that have taken place in the majority of Latin American countries, and calls on Latin American democracies, including Bolivia, to continue to uphold these democratic norms.
“I am proud to be joined by my colleagues to stand in full support of the Bolivian people’s desire to maintain presidential term-limits.” said Menendez. “As the United States advances efforts to defend democratic governance, we needs to have a clear and consistent approach against any elected leader attempting to extend their grasp on power by circumventing their country’s own constitution.”
“Bolivia has taken notable strides in overcoming decades of coups and unstable governments. Respecting its constitution’s presidential term limits and recent referendum reaffirming those limits will help solidify those democratic gains and break the discredited leader-for-life model seen only in the region’s few failed states” said Durbin.
“Bolivia is heading in a very dangerous direction, aligning itself with rogue and illegitimate regimes including Maduro’s in Venezuela. It is important for all parties to respect Bolivia’s Constitution, which includes term limits that serve as an important institutional check against corruption and abuses of power.” Said Cruz.
The full text of the resolution can be found here.
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