Almost seven months have passed since the controversial Bolivian election that sparked a violent social revolt and the departure of Head of State Evo Morales. Bolivians will be called to appoint their president and the Legislative Assembly on Sunday, May 3, the president of the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE), Salvador Romero, announced on Friday. A possible second round will be organized within 45 days of the first.
An audit by the Organization of American States (OAS) confirmed irregularities in the October 20 ballot. The election was therefore canceled and the former members of the TSE, who had awarded victory in the first round to Evo Morales, were arrested. The latter resigned on November 10 after fourteen years in power, under pressure from opposition demonstrations which contested his re-election for a fourth term. He took refuge in Mexico then in Argentina. He will not be able to stand for election on May 3.
Since then, Bolivia has been headed by an interim president, right-wing senator Jeanine Añez. "I hope we will achieve what all Bolivians want: transparent and fair elections," she said after the election date was announced.
Andronico Rodriguez, the favorite of the polls
Among the possible candidates, the young peasant leader Andronico Rodriguez, considered as the political heir to Mr. Morales, is the favorite of the polls with 23% of the voting intentions, even if he still has to get the nomination of his party. Former centrist president Carlos Mesa is currently second in the polls with 21% of voting intentions.
Right-wing regional leaders Luis Fernando Camacho and Marco Antonio Pumari, who played a key role in the fall of Mr. Morales, follow far behind with 13% and 10% respectively, but are currently negotiating a game-changing alliance. An evangelist pastor of Korean origin, Chi Hyung Chung, collected some 8% of the voting intentions.
With AFP and Reuters
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