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Bolivia election: Evo Morales wins third term, say exit polls | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Exit polls in Bolivia's presidential elections indicate that the incumbent, Evo Morales, has won a third consecutive term in office. | |
Mr Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous leader, won more than 60% of the vote, according to the unofficial exit polls. | |
Votes are still being counted across the country. Six million people were eligible to vote in Bolivia and abroad. | |
Mr Morales has overseen strong economic growth since taking office in 2006 and has been widely tipped to win. | |
He has presided over a a period of economic growth and reduced poverty, using Bolivia's commodity wealth to reduce poverty levels. | |
But he has been criticised for failing to halt corruption. | |
Mr Morales's party, the Movement Toward Socialism, is also expected to make gains and win a strong majority in Congress. | |
The poll passed without major incident, according to the electoral authorities and foreign observers. | |
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. |