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Bolivian President Evo Morales 'loses fourth term bid' | |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Evo Morales of Bolivia has lost a referendum to allow him to stand for a fourth term in office, exit polls suggest. | |
One poll suggests 52.3% voted against the proposal to amend the constitution, while another suggests it was 51%. | One poll suggests 52.3% voted against the proposal to amend the constitution, while another suggests it was 51%. |
The change would have allowed Mr Morales to remain in power until 2025. He called the vote saying he needed more time to implement reforms. | |
The opposition says the move would be undemocratic. | The opposition says the move would be undemocratic. |
Bolivia referendum: All you need to know | |
Vote counting has been slower than usual. | |
The electoral authorities say the delay is affecting mostly ballots from rural areas, which largely support the president. | |
In the eastern province of Santa Cruz, angry voters set fire to ballot papers and ballot boxes after a delay to the opening of several polling stations. | |
Mr Morales, an indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, took office in January 2006. | |
His current term ends in 2020 but he would be able to run again in 2019 for a new six-year term if Sunday's referendum was approved. | |
The president's approval ratings remain high in Bolivia, where the economy has grown on average 5% a year since he took office. |