Bolivia: Exit polls give president’s allies slight advantage in state elections

By Carlos Valdez, AP
Sunday, April 4, 2010

Small gains for Bolivia’s Morales in state votes

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Allies of leftist President Evo Morales made modest advances in state and local elections on Sunday, according to independent exit polls.

Morales and his Movement Toward Socialism campaigned hard in opposition controlled eastern provinces where resistance is strongest to the central government’s redistribution of land and wealth.

Pro-government candidates for governor had comfortable leads in five out of nine state races, according to exit polls released by television broadcasters ATB and Unitel. The first official results were due on Monday.

Those victories would consolidate Morales’ control over La Paz and Cochabamba states, where elected opposition governors were temporarily replaced in 2008 after challenging the president to a recall referendum and losing.

But opposition candidates held on to at least three of four closely contested states there, according to the exit polls, which showed a near-tie in the northern state of Pando.

Pre-election polls had shown seven statehouses within Morales’ reach.

The president acknowledged some disappointment, while challenging opponents to collaborate with the government.

“The opposition should understand that this process of change is unstoppable,” Morales said. “If they don’t join it then at least contribute so that the people win.”

But incumbent Gov. Ruben Costas of Santa Cruz celebrated his re-election in stark terms.

“The forces of democracy have defeated tyranny,” he said.

Allies of the president own a comfortable majority in Congress, have the military’s loyalty and could soon win a friendly judiciary in the first nationwide elections for high-court justices.

But even with two-thirds of Bolivians behind him, Morales continues to be frustrated by opposition governors who have tried in vain to wrest away control of royalties on Bolivia’s natural gas deposits from the central government.

Polls showed the opposition prevailing in Tarija, Santa Cruz and Beni state, where Morales’s allies nominated the beauty queen and political newcomer Jessica Jordan.

In mayoral elections, pro-government candidates picked up three major cities but lost in La Paz, the seat of the Morales administration.

YOUR VIEW POINT
NAME : (REQUIRED)
MAIL : (REQUIRED)
will not be displayed
WEBSITE : (OPTIONAL)
YOUR
COMMENT :