LA PAZ, Bolivia, June 9 (UPI) -- Bolivian lawmakers were deciding Thursday whether to accept the resignation of President Carlos Mesa and, if so, who would lead the country.
Though many analysts expect the president to go, lawmakers rejected Mesa's offer to quit during similar protests in March.
Senate President Hormando Vaca Diez is next in line to succeed Mesa. However, the president has asked Vaca Diez not to accept the post for the good of the country and to back his call for fresh elections.
The senator is particularly unpopular with protesters, but said Thursday he was prepared to assume the role.
La Paz and other Bolivian cities have been hampered by protests for nearly a month. Protesters are demanding the nationalization of country's gas industry, a rewrite of the constitution and an election in the next 90 days.
