- Title: Bolivia's Morales counting on coca-growing region for votes
- Date: 20th October 2019
- Summary: SHINAOTA, CHAPARE, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, EVO MORALES, HANDING OUT PINEAPPLE MORALES WITH COCONUT AND PINEAPPLE MORALES GREETING PEOPLE BOY FILMING WITH CAMERA MORALES EATING PINEAPPLE MORALES GREETING PEOPLE SECURITY MORALES TALKING, SMILING PEOPLE WAVING MORALES POSING FOR PHOTOS / DEPARTING VILLA TUNARI, CHAPARE, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 19, 2019) (REUTERS) COCA LEAVES ON PLANT COCA PLANTATION VARIOUS, COCA CULTIVATOR, ERMINIO VALLEJO, HARVESTING COCA LEAVES (SOUNDBITE) (Quechua) COCA CULTIVATOR, ERMINIO VALLEJO, SAYING: "We want to keep Evo as president because he knows what it's like to live in the countryside. He's had the same life as all of us, since he was young he suffered with all of us. That's why we want him to win." VARIOUS, COCA CULTIVATOR, ELSA FUENTES, HARVESTING COCA LEAVES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COCA CULTIVATOR, ELSA FUENTES, SAYING: "That's what the Bolivian people have decided, those of us from here, from where he was born as a leader, like the (rural worker's) union is a school, the (coca) center is like a school and the federation is like a university for us. And, that's how brother President Evo Morales was brought up. And, up to today, he hasn't failed us, and he's been consequential for the nation, for his people. And that's why he's very important to us, we respect him, we value him, and we're always going to be by his side." SIGN ON EXTERIOR OF COCA MARKET VARIOUS, WOMAN SORTING COCA LEAVES AT MARKET WOMAN AND BOY PUTTING COCA LEAVES IN BAG MORALES CAMPAIGN SIGN IMAGES OF MORALES ON SIGNS ON WALL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COCA CULTIVATOR, AURELIA ARANIBAR, SAYING: "We're proud because he (Morales) helps us with everything, and we want Evo to win tomorrow." SIGNS ON SIDE OF ROAD WITH IMAGE OF MORALES' FACE EVO'S FACE ON SIGN ON EXTERIOR OF MARKET MARKET EXTERIOR VARIOUS, WOMAN POUNDING BAG OF COCA LEAVES PEOPLE OUTSIDE MARKET
- Embargoed: 3rd November 2019 01:49
- Keywords: Bolivia presidential voting elections Bolivian President Evo Morales campaign coca growing home region indigenous
- Location: SHINAOTA & VILLA TUNARI, BOLIVIA
- City: SHINAOTA & VILLA TUNARI, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1RJOZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ahead of Sunday's (October 20) presidential vote, Evo Morales, the current president and candidate for reelection, was in Bolivia's Chapare coca-growing region, a stronghold for the incumbent.
A former llama herder and coca leaf farmer who often appears at public events in colorfully-embroidered alpaca suits, Morales holds a special sway in this region on the Andes' eastern slopes.
And, Morales headed here to gin up support among his most fervent supporters ahead of Sunday's vote, which will either cement Morales in power for a controversial fourth term or dislodge the iconic left-wing leader, who has ruled the land-locked South American country for nearly 14 years.
Morales swept into power in 2006 pledging to bolster Bolivia's marginalized indigenous groups and is leading in opinion polls, but his main rival Carlos Mesa has been closing the gap.
The election - expected to be the toughest challenge to Morales' rule yet - has sparked debate about President "Evo" as he is often known. Solid economic growth has made him a poster boy for socialism, but his defiance of term limits has sparked angry street protests, with some calling him a "dictator".
Pollsters expect Morales to win the first round, but not an outright victory - a scenario which would lead to a second round run-off in December.
(Production: Herbert Villarraga, Monica Machicao) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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