10/18/2020 8:11 PM
Clarín.com
World
Updated 10/18/2020 8:11 PM
At the end of a voting day that throughout Bolivia was generally peaceful, without major incidents, the country awaited the results this Sunday with great expectations.
But they will likely have to wait at least until Monday, or
maybe two or three days to find out who won
and whether or not there will be a second round of elections.
“The political climate here in Bolivia is highly polarized, with two candidates leading the polls,
Luis Arce
, from MAS, and
Carlos Mesa
, from Comunidad Ciudadana.
But the point is in an eventual second round, since the polls predicted a narrow victory for Arce that perhaps leaves doubts about the 10 points of difference necessary to win in the first round, "
the director of Institutional Policy of the Ombudsman
explained to
Clarín.
from the People of the City of Buenos Aires, Dolores Gandulfo, who traveled to La Paz as part of a mission to observe the elections.
The Supreme Electoral Court decided on Saturday to cancel the Preliminary Results Dissemination system (DIREPRE), with which it was expected to have a quick count that would yield results on Sunday night, as it could not guarantee its optimal functioning, according to reported.
In this context, the uncertainty will last perhaps for several days.
“The scrutiny started now, but surely there will be no data tonight.
The first results to arrive will be from the vote abroad, ”said Gandulfo.
“We will have to be patient and wait for the final results, which could arrive in three or four days.
Venturing anticipated results today could generate some conflict, and this is what has been wanted to avoid, that is why the quick count system of the Electoral Tribunal was suspended, "the official clarified.
"Although some companies will conduct polls, and the political forces themselves have their own polls, it would be unwise for them to pronounce themselves today, whether it be Arce proclaiming his victory or Mesa stating that there will be a second round, because that could lead to mobilizations and some conflict", Gandulfo interpreted, who remarked that the voting day was very quiet and that the political parties themselves highlighted it.
The interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, this Sunday, before voting in the department of Beni.
Photo: DPA
Añez asks for patience
At the closing of the polling stations, the interim president of Bolivia, Janine Áñez, asked citizens and political parties for "patience" while waiting for the first results to be known.
"We must all have patience to wait for the results without generating any type of violent acts, I assure you, we will have credible results," said Áñez through a message broadcast by the state-owned Bolivia TV.
"Beyond our differences, we are all Bolivians and, therefore, together we must build a united, democratic and peaceful Bolivia," insisted the head of the interim government and appealed to the "maturity" of her compatriots to enforce "the law. "during the day this Sunday.
"We have had a peaceful and democratic holiday (...), for this I want to thank the citizens, the electoral authorities, the Police and the Armed Forces who have contributed to social peace," he remarked.
CB