Evo Morales, the first Indian president of Bolivia, remains highly popular eight months after taking office but he faces some challenges as the honeymoon wears off.

Morales, an Aymara coca farmer, fulfilled campaign promises to nationalize the country's oil and gas reserves and rewrite the constitution to include more indigenous rights. But the nationalization program is being delayed and political meddling is threatening the constitutional assembly.

Meanwhile, teachers, bus drivers, postal workers and health workers are laying plans for protests and strikes. Before he was elected, Morales led some of the biggest protests that contributed to the ouster of two former presidents.

Despite the troubles, Morales enjoys a 70 percent popularity rating.

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In Bolivia, New Setbacks To a Leader's Lofty Vision (The Washington Post 8/31)
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