As he announced that the first item on the session’s agenda in Sucre, Bolivia’s nominal capital (though all government functions are in La Paz) would be the consideration of Carlos Mesa’s resignation, Senator Vaca Diez also mentioned that those who think that Bolivia is ready for a “radical government” to end poverty are wrong. “That path,” he said, “leads to exclusion and disintegration.”

Later, a master of evasive rhetoric, Vaca Diez refused to say whether he would take power, as the consitution allows, claiming that while Mesa’s resignation is not finalized he has nothing to say about it.

The rural Aymara leaders, who are preparing for a new day of struggle, responded with a simple warning upon learning of this: “Even if he leaves, that resolves nothing… we will keep going and will descend (on La Paz) tomorrow.”

Vaca Diez, while many take as a given that he will become the next president of Bolivia, dismissed the necessity of dialog with them. “The solution, all of it, all of it, is within the framework of the constitution, of institutionalism, and nothing else,” he concluded.

Kind readers, this thing is heating up, the plot is thickening… stay with us tomorrow…