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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bolivia election: Evo Morales bids for third term | Bolivia election: Evo Morales bids for third term |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Votes are being counted in Bolivia, with left-wing President Evo Morales bidding for a third consecutive term in office. | |
| Mr Morales has been in office since 2006 and is widely tipped to win, having presided over a period of economic growth and reduced poverty. | Mr Morales has been in office since 2006 and is widely tipped to win, having presided over a period of economic growth and reduced poverty. |
| Six million people were eligible to vote in Bolivia and abroad. | |
| The electoral authorities and foreign observers said the poll passed without major incident. | |
| Analysis: Ignacio de los Reyes, BBC News | Analysis: Ignacio de los Reyes, BBC News |
| Evo Morales became the first indigenous president in 2006 and is even more popular now, and not only among his Aymara ethnic group. | Evo Morales became the first indigenous president in 2006 and is even more popular now, and not only among his Aymara ethnic group. |
| He won the trust of many thanks to Bolivia's good economic performance. Supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants are popping up everywhere. | He won the trust of many thanks to Bolivia's good economic performance. Supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants are popping up everywhere. |
| The new cable car in La Paz is perhaps the best example of the changing times in Bolivia, which remains one of the poorest countries in the region. | The new cable car in La Paz is perhaps the best example of the changing times in Bolivia, which remains one of the poorest countries in the region. |
| It connects La Paz with the satellite city of El Alto, home to thousands of migrants. There, a monument to Che Guevara sits next to a brand new shopping centre, surrounded by thousands of poorly built stalls selling counterfeit products. | It connects La Paz with the satellite city of El Alto, home to thousands of migrants. There, a monument to Che Guevara sits next to a brand new shopping centre, surrounded by thousands of poorly built stalls selling counterfeit products. |
| A giant campaign poster of "Evo" overlooks the scene. His face is likely to stay there for five more years if, as predicted, he wins a landslide victory on Sunday. | A giant campaign poster of "Evo" overlooks the scene. His face is likely to stay there for five more years if, as predicted, he wins a landslide victory on Sunday. |
| Economic growth | Economic growth |
| Since 2006, Mr Morales's government has focused on education subsidies, increased pensions and spending on public works. | Since 2006, Mr Morales's government has focused on education subsidies, increased pensions and spending on public works. |
| He has been boosted by a boom in commodities prices that has helped boost export revenues nine-fold. | He has been boosted by a boom in commodities prices that has helped boost export revenues nine-fold. |
| The revenue has helped fund policies that have created an average annual economic growth of 5%, well above the regional average. | The revenue has helped fund policies that have created an average annual economic growth of 5%, well above the regional average. |
| It has also funded public works projects, including a cable car system for the capital, La Paz. | It has also funded public works projects, including a cable car system for the capital, La Paz. |
| Some 500,000 people have been taken out of poverty. | Some 500,000 people have been taken out of poverty. |
| The oil, gas, mining, telecommunications and water sectors have all been nationalised. | The oil, gas, mining, telecommunications and water sectors have all been nationalised. |
| Mr Morales's critics say he has introduced anti-environment measures and presided over a corrupt administration. | Mr Morales's critics say he has introduced anti-environment measures and presided over a corrupt administration. |
| He is also accused of using millions of dollars in government cash to fund his re-election campaign and that this has helped create a fractured opposition. | He is also accused of using millions of dollars in government cash to fund his re-election campaign and that this has helped create a fractured opposition. |
| Although there are four challengers in the election, opinion polls suggest Mr Morales is 40 points ahead of his nearest rival, Samuel Doria Medina. | Although there are four challengers in the election, opinion polls suggest Mr Morales is 40 points ahead of his nearest rival, Samuel Doria Medina. |
| Mr Doria Medina has vowed to clean up the judiciary if elected. | Mr Doria Medina has vowed to clean up the judiciary if elected. |
| To avoid a run-off, Mr Morales must win 50% of valid votes, or 40% if that includes a 10-point lead over his nearest rival. | To avoid a run-off, Mr Morales must win 50% of valid votes, or 40% if that includes a 10-point lead over his nearest rival. |
| Mr Morales will want to maintain his two-thirds control of Bolivia's Senate and assembly, which are also holding elections. | Mr Morales will want to maintain his two-thirds control of Bolivia's Senate and assembly, which are also holding elections. |
| This could allow him to alter the constitution to permit a fourth term in office. | This could allow him to alter the constitution to permit a fourth term in office. |
| Mr Morales has already benefited from a court ruling that permitted him to run for a third term. | Mr Morales has already benefited from a court ruling that permitted him to run for a third term. |