Bolivians bang on pots and pans in protest of Morales election win
>>LA PAZ: Bolivians banged on pots and pans from windows and rooftops in the capital La Paz on Friday, protesting a controversial election count handing President Evo Morales a fourth consecutive term that would extend his rule to nearly two decades.
Mr Morales, 59, who swept to power in 2006 as the country’s first indigenous leader, hailed the official result of last Sunday’s vote as another historic triumph for his leftist movement and accused the opposition, without evidence, of trying to stage a coup d’etat with foreign backing.
Mr Morales faced a fifth day of street protests in La Paz and other cities that began after an official quick count of votes was suddenly suspended last Sunday when it was revealed that Mr Morales was heading towards a riskier run-off election against rival Carlos Mesa.
A confident Mr Morales said then his socialist party MAS would get an outright win as rural votes trickled in.
The tabulation of ballots at 100% on Friday confirmed his prediction, giving him a 10.6-point lead over Mr Mesa, less than a point above what he needed to avoid a second-round vote.
Election monitors, the opposition and some foreign governments criticised the election for lacking transparency.
The European Union, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia called for Bolivia to convene a second-round vote to ease the unrest.
Brazil’s foreign ministry said it would not recognise Mr Morales’ win while an audit of the vote count by the regional group Organisation of American States (OAS) was still pending.
The only countries that have congratulated Mr Morales on his win were Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico.
After nightfall, Bolivians banged on pots and pans in a traditional form of protest. Earlier, roads were blocked and demonstrators surrounded the headquarters of the country’s electoral board, guarded by rows of police in antiriot gear.
“Evo Morales had an acceptable administration,” said protester Jose Callisaya, 38. But “it’s healthy in a democracy to change leaders.”
Mr Mesa, a former president who leads the Citizen Community party, has called for indefinite protests until a second-round vote is convened, which Mr Morales has ruled out as unconstitutional.