Although Morales' won, the prefects from the four eastern, lowland departments-Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija-who have been spearheading the opposition, were also ratified.
On mid-August there was a 24-hour violent general strike in the Departments of Pando, Beni, Santa Cruz, Tarija, and Chuquisaca to protest gas revenue sharing with the central government.