Bolivia's left-wing leader Evo Morales has won the presidential election, according to the electoral commission in the first round. After completing the preliminary vote count, Morales came up with 47.07 percent, while his conservative challenger Carlos Mesa hit 36.51 percent. Morales is thus facing his fourth term - but is faced with allegations of electoral manipulation.
According to the preliminary count, Morales has just reached the constitutionally required lead over the runner-up. In Bolivia, a presidential candidate has won the election if he gets at least 40 percent of the vote and has a margin of at least 10 percentage points on the runner-up.
Mesa spoke before the announcement of the preliminary final result of electoral fraud and said that they do not want to acknowledge the results. He repeated this again, even after the current announcement by the Electoral Commission. Mexico, on the other hand, already congratulated Morales. "We wish him the greatest success for his next term," said the government.
more on the subject
Electoral observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) had recommended to 59-year-old Morales on Wednesday to allow a runoff election even if the conditions for a victory in the first round were met. The European Union joined this recommendation on Thursday. "The EU expects the Bolivian government and electoral authorities to come up with a solution that takes into account the will of the people, the credibility of the electoral process and the maintenance of social stability," said an EU foreign affairs spokeswoman in Brussels.
Morales has governed since 2006 and has won all presidential elections in the first round so far. Upon re-election, the former coca farmer and first indigenous leader of the South American country could remain in office until 2025.