South American election news

I'm not sure how interested the other BPers are in Central and South American politics, but the recent elections in Bolivia and Chile are certainly getting my attention. Things really seem to be changing for our neighbors to the south... Here are just three interesting stories from BBC News involving Bolivia and Chile...

Bolivia President Sacks Army Head

Bolivia's outgoing President Eduardo Rodriguez has sacked the army chief and ordered a probe into the destruction in the US of some 30 missiles in October. Mr Rodriguez said he had been told the ageing Chinese missiles posed a safety risk and had authorised American help with their decommissioning. But, he said, the army should not have sent them out of the country. At the time, Evo Morales - who will take office on Sunday - had called it a US plot to weaken Bolivian defences.

Bolivia to scrap Indian ministry
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4627116.stm)

Bolivia's President-elect, Evo Morales, says he will scrap his country's indigenous affairs ministry.
Mr Morales, an Aymara Indian who on Sunday will become his country's first indigenous president, said the ministry amounted to a form of discrimination. He said the ministry for women would be abolished for the same reason, adding that his cabinet would include Indian leaders and women. In Bolivia, indigenous people represent more than 60% of the population.

The woman taking Chile's top job
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4087510.stm)

Chile's first woman president, Michelle Bachelet, is breaking many political traditions.
Not only is she a woman, but she calls herself a socialist and she is a single parent with a 12-year-old daughter and two other grown children. Giving a victory speech to cheering supporters in Santiago, Ms Bachelet said: "Who would have thought, just five years ago, that Chile would have a woman president?" Outgoing President Ricardo Lagos has hailed her election as an "historic triumph". Chilean society is often portrayed as ultra-conservative, dominated by men and the Roman Catholic Church. Only 4% of senators are women and divorce was only introduced last year. But Ms Bachelet believes this is only part of the picture and Chile is changing - as reflected by her election victory.