- Title: Bolivia's opposition calls for 'peaceful demos' for second round vote
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF BOLIVIA'S OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, CARLOS MESA, AND TEAM GATHERED MESA TALKING TO COLLEAGUE GENERAL OF GATHERING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIA'S OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, CARLOS MESA, SAYING: "First, to demand the immediate call for a second round of elections administered in an appropriate, independent and impartial manner. Second, to summon citizens, social organizations, institutions and personalities, to join the coordinator of defence of democracy and remain peacefully mobilised until the respect for the popular will of the people is achieved."
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 21:41
- Keywords: Bolivia clashes Evo Morales Santa Cruz Mesa election second round
- Location: LA PAZ / COCHABAMBA / SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA
- City: LA PAZ / COCHABAMBA / SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA
- Country: Bolivia
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GKT3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS PROFANITY IN SHOT 7
Bolivian's main opposition presidential candidate, Carlos Mesa, on Wednesday (October 24) called on his supporters to permanently maintain 'peaceful' protests until a second electoral round is ratified, in a new tense day following allegations of manipulation by the ruling party in Sunday's (October 20) elections.
Mesa told a news conference that in the next few hours he will present evidence the government of President Evo Morales - a candidate for a third consecutive re-election - committed fraud in the elections.
Morales has a decisive 10-point lead over Mesa, which has brought protests and riots in cities across Bolivia, some of which saw electoral offices torched.
At a news conference, Morales said Organization of American States (OAS) observers had slandered him by raising what it called "serious doubts" about the election.
The local OAS team has recommended that Bolivia convene a second-round vote after an unexpected interruption to the count and a sudden shift in Morales' favour triggered allegations of vote-rigging by the opposition.
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