Presidential election in Bolivia: end of the electoral campaign under pressure

Murillo Square and the presidential palace in La Paz, Bolivia where general elections are being held this Sunday, October 18.

Cuan Hansen / Getty

Text by: Alice Campaignolle Follow

5 mins

Last days of campaign in Bolivia where we vote this Sunday, October 18.

A year after the fiasco of the elections of last year which had led to the departure and exile of President Evo Morales, the president at the time, the ballot this year promises to be tense and above all very uncertain.

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From our correspondent in La Paz,

It is the word "tension" which best defines these last moments of the campaign.

The activists of the different parties rub each other when they meet during rallies: insults, beatings, attacks… The candidates are not spared either.

Fake news has been raining in recent weeks, such as this fake medical certificate claiming centrist candidate Carlos Mesa has Alzheimer's.

Moreover, within the government itself, there are tensions.

Just a few weeks ago, three ministers resigned over disagreements with interim president

Jeanine Añez

.

►Also read

: In Bolivia, interim president Jeanine Añez renounces the presidential election

Este 18 de octubre tenemos una cita con la historia, con nuestro voto 🗳 podemos terminar con el fraud y la corruption.



Pido tu confianza para encabezar un gobierno que ponga primero a la gente.



¡Vota por Comunidad Ciudadana!

#PrimeroLaGente pic.twitter.com/KGKuZu4d0s

  Carlos D. Mesa Gisbert (@carlosdmesag) October 12, 2020

Democratic desire

Bolivians show a real “democratic desire” after last year's election fiasco, and after being ruled for a year by unelected authorities.

But if they want to vote, some fear going to the polls, due to Covid-19: Bolivia has just experienced the peak of the epidemic in September.

The country, which has 11 million inhabitants, has recorded more than 138,000 cases of Covid-19 and nearly 8,300 deaths.

►Also read

: Bolivia proclaims the state of "public calamity"

In addition, some sectors seem ready to do battle, those who fear electoral fraud.

They may not let it go if the results of the vote do not meet their expectations.

Many are worried about the overflows that could take place.

Because the Bolivians are traumatized by the events of last year.

They have seen clashes in the streets, blockades, there have been deaths, and no one wants to relive that.

What do opinion polls say?

All the surveys give the candidate Luis Arce in first position.

MAS candidate, he was Minister of Economy of Evo Morales.

It is partly at the origin of the good economic health of the country since 2006. It would obtain 34% of the votes and would be opposed in the second round to Carlos Mesa, who would accumulate as for him 28% of the votes.

Carlos Mesa was interim president for a short time.

At the time, he had not succeeded in governing as social tensions were high in the country.

The cultural diversity of #Bolivia es nuestra riquera.

Hoy en la ciudad de #Oruro y #Challapata los pueblos indígena originarios protagonizaron gran demostración de música, danza y organización territorial that inspiran a la lucha por la igualdad de derechos #VamosASalirAdelante pic.twitter.com/BhlIBbdzdT

  Luis Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) October 13, 2020

Remains an outsider: Fernando Camacho, very involved last year in the demonstrations against Evo Morales.

He is a conservative who leans towards the extreme right.

But let's not forget that there are between 20 and 25% of voters who are still undecided.

They are the ones who will make the difference.

► To

listen: Bolivia: the interim president gives up being a candidate for the October 2020 elections

A supporter of Carlos Mesa, candidate of the Communidad Ciudadana party, during an electoral rally on September 27, 2020 in El Alto.

AIZAR RALDES / AFP

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  • Bolivia

  • Evo Morales