Mr Putin's answer, shortly after taking power, was to appoint seven prefects, each in charge of a dozen or so regions.

ECONOMIST: How free is free?

Building-tenders were mostly older white inmates, who were set up like prefects at a British boarding school to enforce order among other inmates.

ECONOMIST: Organised crime

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.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Crisis in Morales' Bolivia

Morales called the prefects to La Paz to begin the negotiation process but talks broke down with each side accusing the other of being unwilling to compromise.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Crisis in Morales�� Bolivia

He is proposing recall referendums for himself and the prefects.

ECONOMIST: Too much confronting and voting, too little governing

Narrow though the differences seem, the constitution is only part of a broader political battle between two Bolivias: the poorer, mainly Indian western highlands still revere Mr Morales, while the opposition is led by the regional prefects of the more prosperous eastern departments.

ECONOMIST: Too much confronting and voting, too little governing