Evo Morales Wins Second Term in
Bolivia
LA PAZ - With
broader popular support, Evo Morales won
relatively easy Suncay's elections and
clinched a second term as Bolivia's
President.
Morales, Bolivia's first ever indigenous
President, was re-elected with between 61
percent and 62 percent of the vote as exit
polls suggest, securing a convincing victory
on Sunday's elections thus avoiding a run-off
with his conservative rivals.
His main opponent Manfred Reyes Villa, a
former governor, stayed well behind with
about 23 percent, exit polls indicate while
the official results are expected in the
coming days.
His other challenger was Samuel Doria
Medina, a wealthy businessman.
Foreign observers have praised the election
for its transparency and fairness.
Jubilant supporters waving Bolivian flags
jumped up and down in La Paz's central
Murillo square an hour after polls closed
chanting "Evo! Evo!".
The leader of the Movement towards Socialism
(MAS) had promised to expand state control
over the economy and redistribute profits
from the gas industry if re-elected, among
other pledges to boost the Gross Domestic
Product and the social welfare.
Political analysts have suggested that the
landslide victory will solidify Morales'
dominance in Bolivian politics and weaken
the split conservative opposition tied to
the business elite.
On his final campaign rally, Morales told a
cheering crowd: "There are two roads:
continue with change or return to the past".
Earlier surveys had predicted He would also
likely gain control of Congress in one of
South America's most troubled and poorest
countries.
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