Posted on 02/22/2016 9:37:29 PM PST by BenLurkin
President Evo Morales said Monday he was not abandoning hope despite indications Bolivians had rejected by a slim margin amending the constitution so he could run for a fourth straight term in 2019.
A member of the national electoral tribunal, Antonio Costas, said later that decisive official results from Sunday’s referendum could not be promised for Monday.
Morales said at a televised news conference he had faith in the slower-reporting countryside, where he has greater support.
...
With 47 percent of polling stations reporting Monday evening, the "no" vote stood at 59 percent.
Unofficial quick counts by polling firms based on samplings of voting stations said 52 percent voted "no." ...
The chief of the Organization of American States observer mission, former Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez, said there was no evidence of fraud but called the vote count slow.
Morales said he would respect voters' will, whatever the outcome... He blamed his disappointing showing on an opposition "smear campaign."
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In 10 years in office, Morales has presided over an unprecedented economic boom as prices for raw materials soared just as he took office.
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But the boom is over.
Bolivia’s revenues from natural gas and minerals, making up three-fourths of its exports, were down 32 percent last year. Economists say Morales leaned heavily on extractive industries to pay for populist programs and failed to diversify the economy.
Analysts said the influence-peddling scandal clearly cost Morales.
It was revealed that a former Morales lover was named sales manager of a Chinese company in 2013 that has obtained nearly $500 million in mostly no-bid state contracts. The president denied any impropriety and claimed he last saw the woman in 2007. But a picture of the two together last year emerged, casting doubts.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
They’ll just keep counting until they get the correct result.
L
He could organize a coup and install himself as dictator for life.
Who’s going to stop him?
When Evo gets Evil!
“It was revealed that a former Morales lover was named sales manager of a Chinese company in 2013 that has obtained nearly $500 million in mostly no-bid state contracts. The president denied any impropriety and claimed he last saw the woman in 2007. But a picture of the two together last year emerged, casting doubts.”
No matter the political leaning, or the location, one thing politicians have in common is their penchant for corruption.
Morales - Another Bernie supporter.
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