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Ballot question on Morales re-election in trouble Ballot question on Morales re-election in trouble
(35 minutes later)
LA PAZ, Bolivia — President Evo Morales’ bid to run for another term by amending the constitution appeared headed toward a slim electoral defeat Sunday night, according to unofficial partial vote counts and early results. LA PAZ, Bolivia — Voters’ eagerness for new blood in Bolivian politics and thinning patience with government corruption may make President Evo Morales’ current term in office his last.
Morales has governed for a decade and, while still popular, many Bolivians have tired of corruption in the ruling elite and have shown, especially in recent in municipal elections, an eagerness for fresh faces. Early results and an unofficial partial vote count early Monday indicated Morales’ bid to extend his presidency by amending the constitution was headed toward a narrow defeat.
A “yes” vote in Sunday’s referendum would have let Bolivia’s first indigenous president seek a fourth term in 2019. Morales has governed for a decade. A “yes” vote in Sunday’s referendum would have let Bolivia’s first indigenous president seek a fourth term in 2019.
The vote couldn’t have come at a worse time for Morales. In the past two weeks he has been stung by an influence-peddling scandal involving a former lover and a deadly incident of political violence. The referendum’s timing could not have been worse for Morales. He was stung this month by an influence-peddling scandal involving a former lover and by a deadly incident of political violence.
Unofficial “quick counts” of sample voting stations by two polling firms put the “no” vote slightly ahead. The Ipsos-Apoyo firm had it leading 52 percent to 48 percent, based on counted ballots at one of every 15 polling stations. Two unofficial “quick counts” by polling firms that looked at counts from a sampling of polling stations said 52 percent voted “no.” One firm, Ipsos-Apoyo, said it saw ballots at one of every 15 polling stations.
The official vote count was slow, particularly in rural areas where support for Morales is strongest. With22 percent counted by late Sunday, the ballot question was being rejected by 67 percent. Official vote counting was slow. With just 23 percent polling stations reporting just after midnight, the “no” vote stood at 67 percent. But vote reports were particularly slow in coming from the countryside, where Morales is most popular. State television halted election coverage shortly before midnight.
Vice President Alvaro Garcia said at a news conference Sunday night that the vote was too close to call. A frustrated Vice President Alvaro Garcia said at a news conference Sunday night that the vote was so far “a technical tie” — too close to call.
“No one has won, nor has anyone lost,” he said, looking frustrated. “No one has won, nor has anyone lost,” he said. Morales did not make an appearance.
Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington, called the tight vote a surprising and major blow for Morales, who won re-election in 2014 with more than 60 percent of the vote. Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington, called the tight vote a surprising, major blow to Morales, who tallied more than 60 percent in his 2014 re-election.
“While few can deny that Bolivia has seen impressive economic growth and social progress under Morales’ rule, many voters are sending a message that it is not enough — they are demanding clean government, accountability and more competitive politics,” Shifter said.“While few can deny that Bolivia has seen impressive economic growth and social progress under Morales’ rule, many voters are sending a message that it is not enough — they are demanding clean government, accountability and more competitive politics,” Shifter said.
Morales, who entered politics as a coca growers union leader, could now be motivated to groom a successor, Shifter said. Morales, who entered politics as a coca growers union leader, could now be motivated to groom a successor, he added.
Bolivia’s constitution, enacted in Morales’ initial term, permits presidents and vice presidents to serve two consecutive terms. Morales’ first term was deemed by the country’s constitutional court not to have counted, so the proposed constitutional change would allow him to run again if passed. Bolivia’s constitution, enacted in Morales’ initial term, permits presidents and vice presidents to serve two consecutive terms. Morales’ first term was deemed by a high court not to have counted.
Leonel Fernandez, the former Dominican Republic president heading an Organization of American States observer team, said voting Sunday was conducted “normally and peacefully.” International observers reported only minor irregularities in Sunday’s vote.
The referendum came after the recent revelation that a former lover of Morales in 2013 was named sales manager of a Chinese company that has obtained nearly $500 million in mostly no-bid state contracts. The referendum followed by days a political bombshell: A former lover of Morales was named sales manager of a Chinese company in 2013 that has obtained nearly $500 million in mostly no-bid state contracts. Morales denied any impropriety and his claim to have last seen the woman in 2007 was questioned when a picture of them together last year emerged.
Morales denied any impropriety and said he last saw the woman in 2007. The case deepened doubts about the integrity of Morales’ governing Movement Toward Socialism, which has been wracked by scandals.
The case deepened doubts about the integrity of Morales’ governing Movement Toward Socialism, which has been buffeted by scandal. Adding to Morales’ woes, six city workers died of smoke inhalation last week in El Alto, the teeming city adjacent to the capital of La Paz, in an attack blamed on pro-Morales agitators. The attackers torched documents that allegedly incriminated the previous mayor in payroll corruption.
Adding to Morales’ woes were last week’s asphyxiation deaths of six municipal officials in El Alto, the teeming city adjacent to the capital of La Paz run since last year by an opposition mayor.
Pro-Morales forces were accused of setting the blaze that caused the deaths, sacking the building and burning documents that allegedly incriminated the previous mayor in payroll corruption.
Both developments blighted Morales’ achievements in cutting poverty, spreading Bolivia’s natural resource wealth and empowering its indigenous majority during a decade in office.Both developments blighted Morales’ achievements in cutting poverty, spreading Bolivia’s natural resource wealth and empowering its indigenous majority during a decade in office.
Eusebio Condori, a retired schoolteacher, said he voted “no” because the scandal and the deaths “confirm that this government doesn’t have a plan for Bolivia, only for itself.”Eusebio Condori, a retired schoolteacher, said he voted “no” because the scandal and the deaths “confirm that this government doesn’t have a plan for Bolivia, only for itself.”
A mother of three, Maria Espinoza, said she voted “no” because she believes in term limits. She echoed the complaint of others that too many jobs depend on political patronage.A mother of three, Maria Espinoza, said she voted “no” because she believes in term limits. She echoed the complaint of others that too many jobs depend on political patronage.
South America’s left has recently been sullied by scandal but Morales had personally remained unscathed. His movement has been discredited, however, by the skimming of millions from the government-managed Fondo Indigena, which runs agricultural and public works in the countryside. South America’s left has recently been sullied by scandal — and punished at the ballot box in Argentina and Venezuela — but Morales had personally remained unscathed.
Morales presided over an unprecedented economic boom as prices for raw materials soared just as he took office. He built airports, highways and the pride of La Paz, an Austrian-built aerial tramway system. He also put a Chinese-built satellite into space. Average per capita income rose from $873 to $3,119 and a new indigenous middle class was born. His movement has been discredited, however, by the skimming of millions from the government-managed Fondo Indigena, which runs agricultural and public works in the countryside.
Morales presided over an unprecedented economic boom as prices for raw materials soared just as he took office.
He built airports, highways and the pride of La Paz, an Austrian-built aerial tramway system. He also put a Chinese-built satellite into space. Average per capita income rose from $873 to $3,119 and a new indigenous middle class was born.
But the boom is over. Bolivia’s revenues from natural gas and minerals, making up three-fourths of its exports, were down 32 percent last year.But the boom is over. Bolivia’s revenues from natural gas and minerals, making up three-fourths of its exports, were down 32 percent last year.
Economists say Morales leaned heavily on extractive industries to pay for populist programs and failed to diversify the economy.Economists say Morales leaned heavily on extractive industries to pay for populist programs and failed to diversify the economy.
In addition, judicial corruption has been endemic and press freedom suffered as major news outlets were purchased by people friendly to the government. Critical media and environmentalists complained of harassment by the state.In addition, judicial corruption has been endemic and press freedom suffered as major news outlets were purchased by people friendly to the government. Critical media and environmentalists complained of harassment by the state.
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Associated Press writer Frank Bajak reported from Lima, Peru. AP writer Paola Flores contributed from La Paz. Associated Press writer Carlos Valdez reported this story in La Paz and AP writer Frank Bajak reported from Lima, Peru. AP writer Paola Flores in La Paz contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.