After years of left-wing mismanagement, Bolivians have elected a new center-right president, and, although there is a long, long way to go, there are signs of improvement.
Long lines at gasoline stations are disappearing. The currency has surged in unofficial markets, and bond investors are taking a more optimistic view of the country’s creditworthiness. The new government is promising to strengthen ties with the US and its allies in the region, while cutting red tape, simplifying taxes and reducing trade barriers to attract businesses.
And then there is the clock that sits on the top of the country’s congressional building:
Eleven years ago, the government rearranged the numbers and overhauled its inner workings so that its hands traveled in reverse — touted as an anti-colonialist “clock of the south.” This week, it has been restored to look and operate normally.
