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| Bolivia President Evo Morales 'loses' fourth term bid' | Bolivia President Evo Morales 'loses' fourth term bid' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Partial results indicate that Bolivia's President Evo Morales has lost a referendum to allow him to stand for a fourth term in office. | |
| With more than 70% of the votes counted, those opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment are leading by more than 10 percentage points. | With more than 70% of the votes counted, those opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment are leading by more than 10 percentage points. |
| Mr Morales is Bolivia's first head of state of indigenous origin. | Mr Morales is Bolivia's first head of state of indigenous origin. |
| He said he would respect the result but accused right-wing sectors of waging a "dirty war". | He said he would respect the result but accused right-wing sectors of waging a "dirty war". |
| An indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, Mr Morales took office in January 2006. His current term ends in 2020. | An indigenous Aymara and former coca leaf producer, Mr Morales took office in January 2006. His current term ends in 2020. |
| The constitutional change would have let Mr Morales run for re-election in 2019 and potentially remain in power until 2025. | The constitutional change would have let Mr Morales run for re-election in 2019 and potentially remain in power until 2025. |
| Opposition supporters have welcomed the referendum result. | Opposition supporters have welcomed the referendum result. |
| "We need to wait with serenity for the final results. It's not time to begin partying yet," said Mr Morales. | "We need to wait with serenity for the final results. It's not time to begin partying yet," said Mr Morales. |
| "Life goes on and our struggle and efforts [to improve the country] will continue", he added. | "Life goes on and our struggle and efforts [to improve the country] will continue", he added. |
| He is still a popular leader and the economy has grown steadily over the past decade, reports the BBC World Service Americas Editor, Leonardo Rocha. | He is still a popular leader and the economy has grown steadily over the past decade, reports the BBC World Service Americas Editor, Leonardo Rocha. |
| However, many thought Evo Morales should not be allowed to serve 19 consecutive years as president, our editor adds. | However, many thought Evo Morales should not be allowed to serve 19 consecutive years as president, our editor adds. |
| Opposition leader Samuel Doria Medina urged Mr Morales to "recognise the results" and focus on solving Bolivia's problems in his remaining time in office instead of trying to run for another term. | Opposition leader Samuel Doria Medina urged Mr Morales to "recognise the results" and focus on solving Bolivia's problems in his remaining time in office instead of trying to run for another term. |
| Evo Morales in office | Evo Morales in office |
| 'Charismatic and powerful' | 'Charismatic and powerful' |
| Even if he loses the referendum, President Morales will have plenty of time before the next election to pick a successor and otherwise influence Bolivia's future, Michael Shifter, head of the US-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank, told Reuters news agency. | Even if he loses the referendum, President Morales will have plenty of time before the next election to pick a successor and otherwise influence Bolivia's future, Michael Shifter, head of the US-based Inter-American Dialogue think tank, told Reuters news agency. |
| "He is one of the most charismatic and powerful leaders in Bolivian history. It is unlikely he is going to just retire from politics," he said. | "He is one of the most charismatic and powerful leaders in Bolivian history. It is unlikely he is going to just retire from politics," he said. |
| "But perhaps for the first time in a decade, it is possible to imagine a Bolivia without Evo that does not return to the old times of economic and racial exclusion." | "But perhaps for the first time in a decade, it is possible to imagine a Bolivia without Evo that does not return to the old times of economic and racial exclusion." |
| Despite a drop in the international price of oil and natural gas, the Bolivian economy has performed well in the past 10 years, growing on average 5% a year. | Despite a drop in the international price of oil and natural gas, the Bolivian economy has performed well in the past 10 years, growing on average 5% a year. |
| The government's socialist policies have also been successful in reducing extreme poverty. | The government's socialist policies have also been successful in reducing extreme poverty. |
| But recent allegations that Mr Morales used his influence to favour a Chinese construction firm in Bolivia have damaged his approval ratings. | But recent allegations that Mr Morales used his influence to favour a Chinese construction firm in Bolivia have damaged his approval ratings. |
| A former girlfriend of Mr Morales, Gabriela Zapata, holds an important position in the company, CAMC, which has secured more than $500m (£350m) in contracts with the Bolivian government. | A former girlfriend of Mr Morales, Gabriela Zapata, holds an important position in the company, CAMC, which has secured more than $500m (£350m) in contracts with the Bolivian government. |
| Mr Morales rejected the allegations and said he had nothing to hide. He ordered an investigation into how the contracts were awarded. | Mr Morales rejected the allegations and said he had nothing to hide. He ordered an investigation into how the contracts were awarded. |