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| Bolivia Presidential Candidate Warns of ‘Manipulation’ as Vote-Count Halts | Bolivia Presidential Candidate Warns of ‘Manipulation’ as Vote-Count Halts |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| LA PAZ, Bolivia — Carlos Mesa, the Bolivian presidential candidate who appeared Sunday to have won enough votes to force a runoff with the incumbent Evo Morales, accused the ruling party of foul play on Monday as election officials stopped reporting vote-count updates. | LA PAZ, Bolivia — Carlos Mesa, the Bolivian presidential candidate who appeared Sunday to have won enough votes to force a runoff with the incumbent Evo Morales, accused the ruling party of foul play on Monday as election officials stopped reporting vote-count updates. |
| “This government is trying to block the path to a second round, which was clearly established yesterday,” Mr. Mesa told reporters. | “This government is trying to block the path to a second round, which was clearly established yesterday,” Mr. Mesa told reporters. |
| The Bolivian election authorities on Sunday night released preliminary election results based on about 83 percent of the votes cast. They showed Mr. Morales ahead with 45 percent, while Mr. Mesa was only seven points behind, with about 38 percent. | The Bolivian election authorities on Sunday night released preliminary election results based on about 83 percent of the votes cast. They showed Mr. Morales ahead with 45 percent, while Mr. Mesa was only seven points behind, with about 38 percent. |
| To avoid a runoff, Mr. Morales, who was seeking a fourth term amid growing Bolivian discontent, needed a 10-point lead. | To avoid a runoff, Mr. Morales, who was seeking a fourth term amid growing Bolivian discontent, needed a 10-point lead. |
| Because Mr. Mesa appears more likely to get the backing of rival presidential candidates that participated in the election, Mr. Morales would face a daunting fight in a second round. It would be held in December. | |
| Addressing supporters Sunday night, Mr. Morales characterized the result as a major victory and did not concede that there would be a second round. | Addressing supporters Sunday night, Mr. Morales characterized the result as a major victory and did not concede that there would be a second round. |
| Election officials on Monday did not respond to queries about why the vote results had not been updated. | Election officials on Monday did not respond to queries about why the vote results had not been updated. |
| The Organization of American States, which deployed a large team of election observers on Sunday, expressed alarm and called on election officials to explain why they had stopped updating results. Several governments in the region also expressed alarm. | The Organization of American States, which deployed a large team of election observers on Sunday, expressed alarm and called on election officials to explain why they had stopped updating results. Several governments in the region also expressed alarm. |
| “Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility and transparency to the process so that the will of the people will be respected,” Michael Kozak, the top American diplomat overseeing Latin America policy, said in a message on Twitter. | “Electoral authorities should immediately restore credibility and transparency to the process so that the will of the people will be respected,” Michael Kozak, the top American diplomat overseeing Latin America policy, said in a message on Twitter. |
| Brazil’s Foreign Ministry also expressed concern by what it called the “lack of response from election officials” about vote-count information. | Brazil’s Foreign Ministry also expressed concern by what it called the “lack of response from election officials” about vote-count information. |
| Mr. Morales, 59, has been in office since 2006, making him the longest-serving head of state in Latin America. His bid for a fourth consecutive term has been criticized at home and abroad as a breach of Bolivia’s democratic rules. | Mr. Morales, 59, has been in office since 2006, making him the longest-serving head of state in Latin America. His bid for a fourth consecutive term has been criticized at home and abroad as a breach of Bolivia’s democratic rules. |
| Bolivia’s Constitution, which was passed during Mr. Morales’s first term, says presidents may serve no more than two consecutive terms. | Bolivia’s Constitution, which was passed during Mr. Morales’s first term, says presidents may serve no more than two consecutive terms. |
| In 2016, Mr. Morales put forward a referendum seeking to do away with that limit and lost by a narrow margin. The following year, however, Bolivia’s Constitutional Court gave Mr. Morales the green light to run again, issuing a contentious ruling that held that term limits infringe basic human rights. | In 2016, Mr. Morales put forward a referendum seeking to do away with that limit and lost by a narrow margin. The following year, however, Bolivia’s Constitutional Court gave Mr. Morales the green light to run again, issuing a contentious ruling that held that term limits infringe basic human rights. |
| While Mr. Morales has been recognized for transformational policies that reduced inequality, empowered indigenous people and made Bolivia’s economy an exemplar in the region, many of his fellow citizens now want him gone. | While Mr. Morales has been recognized for transformational policies that reduced inequality, empowered indigenous people and made Bolivia’s economy an exemplar in the region, many of his fellow citizens now want him gone. |
| Critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian, accusing him of abusing his influence over the judicial system to intimidate or sideline political rivals. They also contend that the government has wasted money on unnecessary projects, including a new 29-story presidential building, at a time when the economy is showing signs of strain. | Critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian, accusing him of abusing his influence over the judicial system to intimidate or sideline political rivals. They also contend that the government has wasted money on unnecessary projects, including a new 29-story presidential building, at a time when the economy is showing signs of strain. |
| Mr. Mesa noted that election officials had promised to release comprehensive preliminary results promptly after the polls closed. | Mr. Mesa noted that election officials had promised to release comprehensive preliminary results promptly after the polls closed. |
| “The longer it takes to learn the final results, the more chance there will be for manipulation,” he said. | “The longer it takes to learn the final results, the more chance there will be for manipulation,” he said. |