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Bolivian President Evo Morales 'loses fourth term bid' | Bolivian President Evo Morales 'loses fourth term bid' |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Evo Morales of Bolivia has narrowly 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 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. |
Mr Morales, an indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, took office in January 2006. | |
The president's 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. | |
His approval ratings remain high in Bolivia, where the economy has grown on average 5% a year since he took office. | |
Appeal for caution | |
Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera urged people to wait for the official results. | |
"Opinion polls, especially exit polls, make mistakes," he told reporters. | |
"They don't take into account the vote abroad. They don't go to the more remote locations, where there is more support for our socialist movement. | |
"It's highly likely that the numbers shown by the opinion polls will be very different from the reality." | |
Vote counting has been slower than usual. | 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. | 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. | 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. |