2005-2006: formation of the Media Luna
Following Morales' 2005 election, the eastern departments voted for autonomy in June 2006.[1]
2008: departmental referendums
Santa Cruz voted 4 May 2008, and Beni and Pando voted 1 June 2008, all with strong autonomy support.[2]
· Referendum or popular consultation
Santa Cruz autonomy referendum, 2008
Santa Cruz voters strongly backed departmental autonomy in a referendum the national electoral authority ruled illegal.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The "Media Luna" (half-moon) term emerged after Evo Morales' 2005 election to describe the eastern departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija, which objected to hydrocarbon nationalization and land-reform policies; these departments voted for autonomy in June 2006 elections, and Beni and Pando held their own autonomy referendums on 1 June 2008, each recording just over 80% support.
- Media Luna (Wikipedia) link, Formation and referendum results section. Source record
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2.
Claim: A referendum on the Santa Cruz Department autonomy statute was held on 4 May 2008, resulting from tensions between the Santa Cruz prefecture and President Evo Morales; 85.6% of participating voters supported autonomy, though Bolivia's National Electoral Court declared the referendum illegal and unconstitutional.
- 2008 Santa Cruz autonomy referendum (Wikipedia) link, Referendum result and legal status section. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/santa-cruz-bolivia-autonomy/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.