[JURIST] A Bolivian constitutional convention championed by President Evo Morales [BBC profile] was set to open Sunday with the goal of rewriting the country's constitution [text]. Morales and his Movement Towards Socialism party [party website, in Spanish; Wikipedia backgrounder] have urged constitutional changes designed to benefit the majority indigenous Indian population [JURIST report] and consolidate greater state authority to benefit poor Bolivians.

Because Morales' party failed to win the two-thirds majority [JURIST report] necessary to control the constitutional assembly, there will be some opposition from wealthier provinces within Bolivia [JURIST news archive] seeking autonomy and well as from others opposing Morales' policies. The 255 elected delegates will have up to one year to rewrite the existing constitution, which was adopted in 1967. AP has more. From La Paz, La Razon provides local coverage.