Preliminary Results in Bolivia Indicate Second Round Between Morales and Mesa

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Bolivian President Evo Morales is leading the preliminary results of Sunday’s first round of presidential elections but is expected to have to contest a second round with former President Carlos Mesa.

Bolivia’s Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) said that, with approximately 83 percent of the votes counted, Morales is leading with 45.3 percent, followed by his closest rival, Carlos Mesa, with 38.2 percent.

The two candidates are expected to face each other again in December, in the presidential election’s second round. Under Bolivian electoral law, a candidate with 45 percent of the votes can win in the first round, but only with a victory margin of at least 10 percent over his closest challenger.

Over 7.3 million Bolivians, at home and abroad, were called to vote yesterday in the presidential and legislative elections for five-year terms.

Source: Agência Brasil

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