National Coordinator for Change explained

The National Coordinator for Change (Spanish; Castilian: Coordinadora Nacional por el Cambio; CONALCAM) is a Bolivian political coordination of social movements aligned with the governing Movement for Socialism-Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples (MAS-IPSP).[1] It was founded on 22 January 2007, during the Constituent Assembly of 2006-2007.[2] [3] CONALCAM mobilizes its member organizations in support of the "process of change" which includes the drafting and implementing of a new Constitution as well as a variety of social reforms.

Structure

According to the organization's statute in September 2010, CONALCAM is made up of the following parts: the President and Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, social movement organizations, the national leadership of MAS-IPSP, and the parliamentary brigade of MAS-IPSP members in the Plurinational Legislative Assembly.[4]

CONALCAM is governed by a National Leadership (Spanish; Castilian: Dirección Nacional), elected once every two years with the following seven offices: President; General Secretary; Secretaries of Political Affairs, Organic (i.e., Internal) Affairs, International Affairs, and of Resolutions; and a Spokesperson.

In 2010, the organization moved to increase its local and regional activities and incorporated into its statute Departmental and Regional organizations: CODECAMs and CORECAMs.

Member organizations

As of September 2010, there are twenty national social movement organizations affiliated with CONALCAM, including the Constituent Assembly. Among these organizations are:

Conalcam also includes mining cooperatives, leftwing parties, vendors' guilds, neighbourhood associations, associations of small business enterprises, youth organizations and popular civic committees.[1]

Mobilizations

CONALCAM was the key mobilizing organization for supporters of the MAS and the draft constitution during the 2008 unrest in Bolivia. In October 2008, it organized a march from Caracollo to La Paz to pressure the National Congress to authorize a referendum on the new constitution, which the Congress did on October 21, as tens of thousands of protesters flooded central La Paz.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Futuro de Conalcam se define mañana :: Noticias de Bolivia de último momento. fmbolivia.com.bo. 20 March 2015.
  2. "Nace la Coordinadora por el Cambio," Constituyente Soberana (website), January 23, 2007
  3. Moira Zuazo, "¿Los movimientos sociales en el poder? El gobierno del MAS en Bolivia," Nueva Sociedad 227, May-June 2010.
  4. Book: CONALCAM. CONALCAM: Declaración de Principios; Reglamento. September 2010. Ministerio de la Presidencia, Vice Ministro de Coordinación con Movimientos Sociales y Sociedad Civil. 19. La Paz. Spanish.