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Bolivia's Socialist Candidate Seen Winner of Presidential Election

VOA News

   Bolivia's socialist candidateLuis Arceappearsto have wonthe
   presidential electionin the first round of voting.

   BolivianTV channelUnitelreleased the initial count
   fromauthoritativepollsterCiesmoriat around midnight on Sunday, showing
   Arce,with 52.4% of the vote.

   "Very grateful for the support and trust of the Bolivian people,"
   ArcetweetedMonday. "We have recovered democracy and we will regain
   stability and social peace. United, with dignity and sovereignty,"he
   said.

   Interim president JeanineAnez, who was notrunning, congratulated Arce
   and his running mate DavidChoquehuancaforthelikely victory.

   Arce'scentrist rival Carlos Mesa, 67,came in second with31.5%,
   according to the same pollster.

   If the results hold,the leftwing party of former presidentEvo
   Morales,the Movement for Socialism (MAS),willreturn to power.

   Although the electoral authority is in the early stage of counting,
   Morales said on Sunday fromBuenos Aires,where he has taken refuge,
   thatArce had won the presidential election.

   "Undoubtedly today is an historic day. Onceagain,the Bolivian people
   have delivered a lesson in democracy and perseverance. The people have
   resisted a coup, a de facto government, two massacres, a pandemic
   management marked by inefficiency and corruption, several delays on the
   elections and the worst economic crisis in our history,"Morales said.

   Sunday'selection, which was postponedtwicebecause
   oftheCOVID-19pandemic, was the first in 20 years not tohaveMorales, the
   country's first ever indigenous leader, on the ballot.

   Afterallegations ofvotingirregularities last year Moralesresigned
   inNovember 2019,after 14 years in power.

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