This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7551994.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Bolivia's Morales hails poll win | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bolivia's President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on whether he should continue in power. | Bolivia's President Evo Morales has claimed victory in a referendum on whether he should continue in power. |
| Unofficial results gave Mr Morales a convincing win, and he promised to continue his reforms, including the nationalisation of key industries. | Unofficial results gave Mr Morales a convincing win, and he promised to continue his reforms, including the nationalisation of key industries. |
| Four of six opposition governors, who have led protests against the president and are demanding more autonomy, also won the right to stay in office. | |
| The outcome of the vote is likely to leave Bolivia divided, analysts say. | The outcome of the vote is likely to leave Bolivia divided, analysts say. |
| Both sides were quick to interpret the result as a validation of their position. | |
| "What the Bolivian people have expressed with their votes today is the consolidation of change," Mr Morales told thousands of cheering supporters in La Paz. | "What the Bolivian people have expressed with their votes today is the consolidation of change," Mr Morales told thousands of cheering supporters in La Paz. |
| "We're here to move forward with the recovery of our natural resources, the consolidation of nationalisation, and the state takeover of companies," he told the crowd from the balcony of the presidential palace. | "We're here to move forward with the recovery of our natural resources, the consolidation of nationalisation, and the state takeover of companies," he told the crowd from the balcony of the presidential palace. |
| Santa Cruz's Ruben Costas said the outcome was a defeat for Mr Morales | |
| The president congratulated the opposition governors who were re-confirmed in their posts and urged them "to work together" with him. | The president congratulated the opposition governors who were re-confirmed in their posts and urged them "to work together" with him. |
| Unofficial exit polls said Mr Morales had won more than 60% of the vote. Official results are expected in the next few days. | |
| In all, eight governors were subject to recall votes, and five of them were victorious, according to early projections. | In all, eight governors were subject to recall votes, and five of them were victorious, according to early projections. |
| One of Mr Morales's fiercest opponents, the Santa Cruz governor Ruben Costas, celebrated his referendum victory in front of supporters who chanted "Autonomy, autonomy". | |
| "This referendum has defeated the remains of centralism, has squashed the manipulation of the enemies of true change, " said Mr Costas. | |
| Three governors, including two Morales supporters, are set to lose their jobs and fresh elections will then be held. | Three governors, including two Morales supporters, are set to lose their jobs and fresh elections will then be held. |
| But the defeated governor of Cochabamba, Manfred Reyes Villa, refused to recognise the result and vowed to resist any attempt to make him stand down. | |
| "My lawyers have told me this is unconstitutional. Legally, I continue to be the governor of Cochabamba," he said. | |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| Bolivia has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west, over the president's plans to radically reorganise the way the country is run, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in La Paz. | Bolivia has become increasingly divided between rich and poor, east and west, over the president's plans to radically reorganise the way the country is run, says the BBC's Daniel Schweimler in La Paz. |
| The result leaves Bolivia as polarised as ever, correspondents say | |
| Mr Morales wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, and he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country, our correspondent adds. | Mr Morales wants to give poor and indigenous communities and women a greater voice, and he wants to redistribute land in what is South America's poorest country, our correspondent adds. |
| But many in the gas-rich east of the country oppose the president's proposals and resent the central government cutting their share of gas revenues. They have responded by calling for greater regional autonomy. | |
| Mr Morales has criticised what he calls privileged groups who talk of separation and oppose change. | Mr Morales has criticised what he calls privileged groups who talk of separation and oppose change. |
| The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence, and protests increased in the run-up to the referendum. | The dispute sometimes breaks out in violence, and protests increased in the run-up to the referendum. |
| Last week, Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports. | Last week, Evo Morales had to cancel two planned trips when angry protesters blocked regional airports. |