Leftwing party looks set to return to power in Bolivia

LA PAZ: Bolivia’s socialist candidate, Luis Arce, looks set to win the country’s presidential election without the need for a runoff, an unofficial count indicated yesterday, putting the leftwing party of the exiled Evo Morales on the brink of a return to power.

The quickcount from pollster

Ciesmori, released by Bolivian TV channel Unitel around midnight on Sunday (local time), showed Arce had 52.4% of valid votes, more than 20 percentage points above the second place centrist rival, Carlos Mesa, who had 31.5%.

The official count had reached just 5% of votes cast.

A candidate needs 40% of the votes and a 10point lead to win outright.

‘‘All the data known so far indicate that there has been a victory for the Movement towards Socialism,’’ Morales, who handpicked his former economy minister and has been closely advising his campaign, said in a press conference in Buenos Aires.

Yesterday’s poll was regarded as a test of democracy in the Andean nation after last year’s election was annulled after allegations of vote rigging, which sparked protests and led to Morales quitting after almost 14 years in power. — Reuters