Congress Declares Evo Morales President
The Bolivian Congress declared Evo Morales and Alvaro Garcia as president and vice president of the nation, respectively, to clear the way for the indigenous and official swearing-in during this weekend.

The decision was taken following the National Election Council report on results of the December 18 voting, in which Morales, of the Movement to Socialism (MAS), won 53.7 percent.

Presidents and high ranking officials from fifty nations will attend the inauguration ceremony on Sunday.

The indigenous swearing-in of the MAS leader will be held on Saturday, and has created great expectations given the origin of the new president and his commitment to eliminate discrimination and marginalization faced by indigenous people.

Morales has not disclosed the members of his cabinet. He vowed to do it next Monday, after he takes the presidency.

In a news conference held Friday, he said the new government would have structural changes such as the creation of the planning and water ministries.

Bolivia began to make history by considering people a governmental priority, he maintained.

He also pledged to work to promptly turn the Sport and Culture vice ministries into ministries, in order to promote health and education for the entire population.

Following the Congress declaration, Morales participated in the First Meeting of Indigenous Authorities of America held in La Paz, where delegates supported his electoral win and fostered the consolidation of a regional means to fight for independence and sovereignty.