By RFPosted on 21-10-2019Modified on 21-10-2019 at 02:57

The outgoing president came out ahead of the first round of the presidential election with 45% of ballots counted, against 38% for his challenger, Carlos Mesa. That he will face in a second round unpublished in this country.

The predictions suggested a delicate part for Morales , head of state since 2006. They confirmed Sunday evening when the president of the Bolivian Supreme Electoral Court, Maria Eugenia Choque, announced the partial results (84% of ballots counted): 45.28% against 38.16%, around 20h.

The rule in Bolivia is a bit peculiar: the candidate is declared elected in the first round when he has reached the absolute majority or 40% of the vote with ten points more than his prosecutor. This is not the case in this situation.

Only Carlos Mesa, a 66-year-old journalist who was already president between 2003 and 2005, seemed to be able to stumble upon the 59-year-old head of state, so far systematically elected in the first round.

(With AFP)

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