Presidential in Bolivia: the hope of a “change” after twenty years of socialism: News

Exasperated by the economic crisis, the Bolivians voted on Sunday to elect their next president with the hope of a “change” after two decades of socialist governments.

The polling stations closed at 4:00 p.m. Therefore, locals (8:00 p.m. Consequently, GMT) paving the way for counting, according to a source from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Furthermore, The first results out of the ballot boxes are expected at 8:00 p.m. Meanwhile, locals (00:00 GMT). Similarly,

The ballot took place in a context of a serious economic crisis marked by a chronic shortage of dollars. In addition, fuel, while annual inflation is around 25%, an unprecedented level for 17 years. Similarly,

presidential bolivia: hope “change” after new

Lied responsible for the debacle. Meanwhile. Similarly, the outgoing president Luis Arce, formerly supported by former President Evo Morales (2006-2019), but presidential bolivia: hope “change” after now in conflict with him, has given up a second term. Nevertheless,

Andronico Rodriguez. However. the president of the Senate also from the left, and the candidate of the movement towards socialism (Mas) in power since 2006, Eduardo del Castillo, remain largely distant in the surveys.

“I want a change. I think the left has done us a lot of trouble,” said Miriam Escobar, a 60 -year -old retiree. “There is no work. no gasoline. no diesel, everything is very expensive,” she deplored after voting at La Paz, the administrative capital located 3,600 meters above sea level.

In this context. two right-wing candidates. among the eight in the running, are competing for first place with presidential bolivia: hope “change” after new around 20% of voting intentions: the center-right millionaire Samuel Doria Medina, 66, and the former right-wing president Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, 65 years old.

Both promise presidential bolivia: hope “change” after to break with the state model established by Morales. by launching a shock plan combining budget cuts and increased opening to private investments. Under the morals. poverty has retreated and tripled GDP, but the fall in revenues since 2017 has plunged the country into the crisis.

“Today. a very important day is a very important day for Bolivians because thanks to the vote we will get out of this economic crisis in a peaceful. democratic way,” said Doria Medina, voting to La Paz. The influential businessman, a candidate for the fourth time to the presidency, undertakes “a government of austerity”.

– “End of a cycle” –

“This is the end of presidential bolivia: hope “change” after new a cycle. ” said Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, after having also voted at La Paz. This engineer. who had provided an interim at the head of the country for a year (2001-2002). promises presidential bolivia: hope “change” after “a radical change” in the event of a victory.

The two favorites should compete according to the polls in a second round on October 19, and impose on the left its heaviest backhand since the coming to power of Evo Morales.

The former 65 -year -old head of state hoped to run for a fourth presidential term. but justice, by limiting them to two, dismissed him from the race. Aimed by an arrest warrant in a minor milking case that he disputes. the former unionist of Coca planters lives entrenched in his stronghold in the center of presidential bolivia: hope “change” after new the country.

By voting. shot down of sandals. Evo Morales denounced a “without legitimacy” ballot, claiming that void, that he encouraged during the campaign, was going to prevail, while his supporters formed a cord around him, AFP noted. No police presence was presidential bolivia: hope “change” after visible around.

Despite his eviction. the first Bolivian head of state of native origin keeps solid supports in certain rural and indigenous bastions. But his conflict with Arce fractured the MAS. and even those who have long benefited from social policies today express their disenchantment.

For Daniel Valverde, political scientist at Gabriel René Moreno University, “the worst enemy of the left was the left itself”. “Corruption, mismanagement, lack of decisions and improvisation ended up tiring the population,” he said.

In addition to the president. the vice-president, nearly eight million voters in the country must presidential bolivia: hope “change” after new also renew the Bicameral Parliament.

Posted on August 17 at 10:37 p.m.. AFP

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